It's time to reflect

A day after a humbling loss in the opening match of the four-Test series against Australia, most of India's cricketers opted for the comfort of their hotel rooms as they took time off to ponder and reflect on what went wrong at the MCG. Rohit Bhaskar reports.

A day after a humbling loss in the opening match of the four-Test series against Australia, most of India's cricketers opted for the comfort of their hotel rooms as they took time off to ponder and reflect on what went wrong at the MCG.

Speaking to HT, India's media manager GS Walia, said, "Most of the boys spent their time in their hotel rooms. We also have an early flight to Sydney tomorrow morning, so most of the team will head to bed early tonight."

The team is staying at the Langham Hotel, located in Melbourne's Southbank region overlooking the Yarra river.

In an interview with HT last week, skipper MS Dhoni had informed that the team management had told all the hotels they would be staying in not to deliver newspapers to the players' room. Just as well, because a day after Australia's thumping 122-run win the local newspapers didn't have many kind words for Dhoni & Co.

The Daily Telegraph wrote that the pressure is now on India and their famed batting line-up, who would have to prove that they are more than just flat track bullies. "MS Dhoni has conceded India's great weapon is now its weakness - a cast of batting flops who must prove they are not flat track bullies," read a report in the newspaper.