The true champions?

IPL was considered as a prelude to Twenty20 World Cup as it was scheduled right before it and was supposed to provide the players of the league with match practice for the bigger event to follow.

Almost all the nations competing in the 12-nation tournament had their representative in the league except for the associate nations and Pakistan -- Dirk Nannes of Netherlands was the only player representing the associate nations. Some of the Australian players also opted not to be a part of this slam-bang extravaganza (IPL) -- Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, Shane Watson.

But, the only nation whose entire team was part of the IPL was India; or put it this way, the IPL was part of the selection process for team India who entered the T20 World Cup as favourites and were also the reigning champions -- they won the first edition of the ICC T20 world cup in South Africa in 2007.

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni also termed his team as favourite before the start of the world cup and when they downed Pakistan, who were the other finalists of the inaugural world cup, in the warm-up game by nine wickets it was reassured that they still have the potential to retain the title.

Tall claims made by the team and the team captian were cut short as India were beaten in all of their three super eights matches by West Indies, England and South Africa. The only other team to have lost all of its matches in super eights are Ireland.

There are all sorts of rumors but the cause of the downfall of the cricketing giants is the main concern for cricket lovers in India. A rift between their Captain, Dhoni, and the vice captain, Virender Sehwag (who departed from England because of an injury), is said to be one of the biggest reasons of the debacle.

And the other factor was probably the oozing confidence. Sehwag's inclusion in the team is understood to have started the rift in the Indian camp. Sehwag, in spite of carrying an injury from playing the IPL, was picked by the selectors for the all important tournament.

Dhoni became more annoyed at the management when Sehwag started missing practice sessions of the team.

Many pundits, media and the people of India are of the opinion that the skipper's decision of constantly changing the batting order was the cause of the slump in the batting, which failed to fire in all of the three matches. They even failed to achieve a total as small as 131 against South Africa.

An opening stand of 48 in just six overs was not enough for the under performing Indian batting order when they were playing the Proteas. India only managed to make 118 for the loss of eight wicket in their quota of twenty overs.

In their first super eights match against the West Indies, India were beaten by 7 wickets as Dwayne Bravo milked Indian bowling to score 66 of 45 balls. They set a target of 153 for the Windies. Indian top order failed again and were down 4-66 when Yuvraj Singh and Yousuf Pathan gave them a fifth wicket stand of 64 runs to give some respect to the total. But Pathan-Yuvraj resistance went in vain because of a below-par bowling attack as the West Indies achieved the target with eight balls to spare.

When India faced England it was a do or die match for them, if they wanted to stay in contention for the title. Top order again crumbled as they lost two wickets when the score was 27 chasing a target of 154 set by a Pietersen (46) inspired England.

Then came a decision that will haunt Dhoni for many years to come as he promoted Jadeja ahead of Yuvraj Singh -- the only in form Indian player -- in the batting order. Jadeja managed to stop the fall of wickets by decreasing the run rate, which in the end cost them the match and a chance to progress to the next stage. With this loss Indian dreams of retaining the Twenty20 World Cup title were over.

But the real story started after the match; as furious fans back home burned effigies of the Indian captain in his home city of Ranchi.

When it comes to fans, India have the largest fan base in the world and some really passionte fans at that. India sometimes have more fans in the stadium than the home side, when they are playing in England especially. Even Collingwood at the end of the match admitted he could hear 'boos' from Indian fans present in the stadium and he said it boosted the morale of the English team.

Indian media started a slam bang of their own accusing Dhoni of everything except the Mumbai Attacks. Dhoni after being humbled by the English was trying to promote sportsmen spirit -- which India lacks the most -- by apologising to the fans. He said, they will bounce back; he also named fatigue as the main reason of their demise.

But what he forgot to mention in his conference was the reason of fatigue and tiredness of the team which was obviously the number of matches they played in the IPL, which was squeezed in by the BCCI between a very packed playing schedule of the Indian team.

Money was perhaps too much a temptation as all Indian player played in IPL.

Garry Kirsten, former South African batsman and the current coach of India, is also of the opinion that IPL was the main cause of the team's loss. He said that many players carried injuries over from the IPL which affected their game in the world cup.

After Kirsten comments against the IPL, a cash making baby of Indian cricket board, the BCCI became so furious that they rejected his comments all together.

Next edition of the IPL is proposed to be held in March/April next year and it won't be easy for the players to sit out of the tournament as it will mean losing a hefty sum of money.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's India now hope a one-day series in the West Indies later this month will help them recover from a dismal campaign in the World Twenty20.

They now embark on a tour of the Caribbean for four one-dayers and return home after the last game against at St Lucia on July 5 and will get a chance to rest till the Champions Trophy starts in South Africa in late September.

Skipper Dhoni wants his team to forget the disappointing performance in the World Twenty20 and look ahead towards the series against the West Indies.

But, as of now the whole world is enjoying the taste of some fresh Indian 'curry'.