The retirement of batting greats Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman deepened the gloom and even Sachin Tendulkar, who became the first cricketer to hit 100 international centuries this year, laboured in the twilight of his career.
Cricket-crazy India seems to be running out of patience with Tendulkar, the only man in the history of the game to have scored a century of centuries.
Tendulkar, 39, has averaged 25 in 2012 and his innings of 76 at Eden Gardens against England was his first Test half century since January 3.
