After the successes of 2003, where Team India appeared to be shaping up as a cohesive, fighting unit capable of competing with the best, 2004 will have to go down as a largely disappointing year - one of missed opportunities and unfulfilled promises.

The zip and sharpness which one had begun associating with the team, was lacking for much of the season, and apart from a few high points - like the emergence of Irfan Pathan as arguably the most talented swing bowler in the country - there is no disputing the fact that the year saw many more losses than gains.

The most obvious and perhaps most significant reason for the performance graph showing a sharp nosedive has to be the consistently woeful form of India's famed batting line-up. Call it a collective reassertion of the law of averages or simply a cruel reminder of the reversals this glorious game habitually dishes out, the lacklustre performance of the Indian top-order was in stunning contrast to its own devastating batting the year before.

The same batsmen, who had formed the backbone of India's successes at the World Cup and during the famous Australia tour in 2003, looked out of form and out of depth, but more worryingly appeared to have been 'found out' by the opposition. Naturally, one would expect rival think-tanks to come up with new strategies to stop what was becoming a destructive run machine. But seeing the 'famous five' respond so timidly to bowling artilleries targeting them with fresh ideas and newly devised strategies, was disconcerting to say the least.

Sachin Tendulkar, who for much of his career has been one of the most delightful exponents of straight bat strokes, found himself forced time and again into playing across the line, only to be either bowled or leg before. Ditto with VVS Laxman, who acquired the frustrating habit of making delectable 25s before a leaden-footed attempt to flick to midwicket ensured his stumps were in disarray.

Sourav Ganguly probably needed the least 'working out', because he seemed intent on showing that old habits die hard - the comfortable chip to an eager second slip being his preferred mode of leaving the crease. Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag were clearly much more consistent than the rest, but by the standards they have set over the years, even their season was nothing to write home about.

For the first time in his career, Dravid's defence against the quickies appeared suspect, perhaps the effect of too much one-day cricket or maybe just a sign that he is finally feeling the pressure of keeping wickets on a regular basis. Sehwag delighted with some dazzling knocks like the 309 in January at Multan, but frustrated in equal measure as well, losing his wicket early on numerous occasions thanks to some ill-advised bravado.

The support cast in the batting wasn't terribly inspiring either. Yuvraj Singh found himself opening one day, down the order the next and after failing in both duties was rather uncharitably dumped.

Akash Chopra could not recover from the inexplicable lack of faith shown in him following his promising tour Down Under and, when he eventually got a chance, seemed tentative and out of touch.

Mohammad Kaif, who is developing into a fine Test match number 5, was perhaps the only saving grace amongst the new brigade, though Gautam Gambhir's sparkling performances at the end of the year might force a revision of that statement.

The consistent batting debacles meant a poor year for Indian cricket was inevitable, especially in the one-dayers which are increasingly becoming batsmen-centric games. But even if for a moment we overlook the disappointments in the batting department, there isn't a great deal to cheer about elsewhere either.

Parthiv Patel would be overwhelming favourite for the worst keeper of the year award, which is unfortunate because he was proving to be a doughty customer with the bat. Eventually, he had to be shown the door, and while his replacements Dinesh Kaarthick and MS Dhoni have been decidedly better behind the stumps, their prowess with the bat is still in doubt.

There wasn't much luck when it came to the search for an all-rounder either, though to be honest there didn't appear to be any concerted effort in that direction. The team management was adamant on sticking with the seven-batsman formula in the limited overs format with the Sehwag-Sachin-Sourav troika filling in for the fifth bowler. While this has worked well for India in the past, surely the string of disappointing results should have prompted some flexibility in approach and willingness to blood a promising all-rounder at number seven. This reluctance to try new tactics when old ones weren't delivering was surprising, and Indian cricket is poorer for it.

Often the best way to judge how well a team has developed over a span of time is to evaluate which weak areas they have been able to plug during the period. By failing to make any substantial headway in two areas which were clear weaknesses at the start of the year, it would have to be said that India's progress in 2004 left plenty to be desired.

If there was any silver lining to this otherwise gloomy year, it is the gains made in the bowling department. Irfan Pathan, with his genuine ability to swing the ball and generate a good deal of pace, was by far India's cricketer of the year. He is an asset to the team because he plays the game hard, seems to love a challenge and above all has a sound head on his shoulders.

The resurgence of Zaheer Khan also augurs very well for Indian cricket, and with Ashish Nehra also in the fray, the pace bowling department looks to be in good hands. Nehra can be a handful on his day, but somehow one gets the feeling that Pathan and Zaheer will always have the edge over him due to superior batting skills and better fitness.

Anil Kumble, meanwhile, delivered his best year in the recent past, cruising past Kapil Dev's record of 434 Test wickets to become India's most successful Test match bowler ever. He is your archetypal guts-and-glory story - a lesson in how perseverance and hard work are as important as talent and ability, if not more.

It will be a lesson the rest of the team will do very well to imbibe. Individually most of them would rank amongst the best in their trades, but when put together the final picture has been far from first-rate. And this should hurt, because each of them has tasted the highs of success and knows that teamwork and a collective sense of purpose are its chief ingredients. But this is also precisely why we should look ahead with hope rather than despair.

Sachin, Sourav, Rahul and the rest take great pride in their achievements, and 2004 has dented that pride, as it should have. The onus is now on them to repair the damage and I'd be surprised if they shy away from the challenge. The key will be to honestly and ruthlessly analyse where and why 2004 went wrong, and how to ensure 2005 doesn't follow suit. The season kicks off with the Pakistan tour in February and this surely isn't an opposition which will fail to ignite fire in the Indians' belly. If they are able to reproduce some of the fire on the field, it would set the ideal tone for one blazing year of cricket.