The last thing India’s struggling cricket team needed was a heavyweight controversy. Their task of saving the series has become more confronting now, but cricket has seen amazing turnarounds and the steel in battle-hardened men cannot be reckoned without.

The leader’s crown of thorns has never been so deeply pierced; the coach has very little success to feel good about; the most experienced pace bowler is out in the cold and the most celebrated batsman in the history of the game is averaging 22.00 in the series.