India had ample opportunities to win the first Test against Australia at Melbourne. But MS Dhoni and company failed to take them with disastrous results. Defensive field placements and a dropped catch by Zaheer Khan allowed the hosts to put on another vital 60 runs today. In the end, those runs made a huge difference to our self-belief in chasing the target of 292.

There was only one way we could have won the Test – if Sehwag had stayed on more than 20 overs and if had Dravid batted for more than 50 overs. That didn’t happen. The result: a loss by 122 runs.

The general view before the series began was this is India’s best chance of winning a Test series in Australia. What a stupid thing to say! When Bishan Singh Bedi’s men toured Down Under in 1977-78, we could have won the series 5-0 because most of their top players were playing in the Packer’s world series. That was our best chance but we lost 2-3.

This was going to be a tough series anyway. But we had a very good chance in this Test. Consider this: this is the best team India can cobble up. Australia, on the other hand, were weakened by the absence of players like Shane Watson, Ryan Harris and others.

Despite losing the toss, India had the advantage of bowling under cloudy conditions. We also got a couple of major umpiring decisions in our favour – Michael Hussey and Ed Cowan were given out when they were not. Sehwag was extremely lucky to be dropped twice. Yet we could not profit from all this.

This Australian team is certainly the weakest in the past 10 years. But we forget that our own Test team isn’t no great shakes either, especially against top teams abroad. The home win against West Indies seems to have papered over the flaws that had caused our 4-0 loss to England last summer.

We keep saying that our bowling is weak and our batting is the best in the world. The truth is our famed batting line-up often becomes vulnerable when conditions are not to its liking. Much of what India achieved in the first innings was only because Sehwag – a couple of lives notwithstanding — had softened up the Australian attack. But you cannot depend on him all the time.

Let us hope that Gambhir and Laxman improve as the series progresses. I am not in favour of dropping Kohli after one game although it is possible that the think-tank might opt for Rohit Sharma.

Yet some positives have emerged for India. It is heartening to see Umesh Yadav in action. He is the most finished young paceman that India has produced since Kapil Dev. Pace, movement, control and a smooth action, he has everything. And he has a great attitude too.

It is good to see Zaheer Khan fully fit and back at his best. He was perhaps the best bowler on either side. Ishant Sharma bowled one of the best balls of the match when he got through the defence of Michael Clarke in the second innings. Let us hope he does something more than that. Generally he bowls one great spell in an entire series.

R Ashwin bowled better than Nathan Lyon. Which is not saying much. But he impressed more with his bat. He is India’s finest prospect for a future all-rounder.

I don’t foresee any change of bowlers in the next Test at Sydney, the most spinner-friendly track Down Under. And I don’t foresee India playing with two spinners.

It was nice to see Dhoni show some resistance in the second innings. That will help him gain more confidence as a batsman in hostile conditions. I think he should bat freely and aggressively. His flicked six over long on was the shot of the match.

But his captaincy leaves much to be desired. He was too defensive today and paid the price for it. In fact, he has a tendency to become defensive at first notice. Is he the greatest captain Indian has produced? For ODIs and T20, I have no doubt. But for Tests my vote would go to Ganguly.

Despite the win, Australia must make a couple of changes. If he is fit, Shane Watson must come in for Shaun Marsh. I am not sure if David Warner is Test material yet. I am aware of his splendid unbeaten 123 against the Kiwis. But he looks too loose in his shot-making. May be, there’s still a place for Simon Katich. And yes, Brad Haddin looks completely out of batting form. Australia needs to iron out these rough spots. And I think spinner Lyon is just not good enough to play against India. After Sydney, the Aussies must opt for an all-pace attack.

India must come back strongly in the coming games. But I am predicting an Aussie series win. They seem to be hungrier than us. The outstanding catch David Warner took on the boundary line to seal the triumph typifies their driving desire to win. They play as a team – one for all, all for one. As a nation, we pay more attention to individual milestones than what the team collectively achieves in the series.