New Delhi, Mar 24 : (Tareeq Engineer, for First Post) : Scratchy would be a polite way to describe Yuvraj Singh’s innings against West Indies. He poked, he prodded. He played. He missed. He defended. And defended. And then got out when he couldn’t figure out how to take a single to give India victory. The result was an ugly 10 from 19 balls and the need for Suresh Raina to come out and face one delivery to win the match. It was an innings of a man not simply short of confidence, but a man lacking it entirely. Against Pakistan, Yuvraj was yorked third ball by Bilawal Bhatti, who bowls at the fearsome pace of 130 kph. Stuck on the crease, Yuvraj just couldn’t get his bat down in time. In that moment, it appeared the game had moved past him.

This is the same player who once hit Stuart Broad for six sixes in an over in the World T20. Going by the evidence of his last two innings, however, it might be more accurate to say this is no longer the same player who set that world record against England. After the game, Dhoni came out in public support of his struggling No. 4.

"It takes one or two matches,” Dhoni said. “Probably, he will get back into flow as we know how good a match-winner he is. He can turn a game on his own. Today the plan was to have a higher net run-rate but at the same time give Yuvraj a chance to settle his nerves. If he is in flow, Yuvi is a good asset to have.” There is no doubt that a Yuvraj in full flow is a huge asset to have. But this is not that Yuvraj and may never be again. It isn’t just the batting either. He is no longer the standard bearer in the field. When Chris Gayle top-edged a sweep of Amit Mishra, Yuvraj had ages to settle under it at deep midwicket. It was a catch you back a school cricketer to take. Somehow Yuvraj let the ball burst through both his hands and fall behind him. When confidence starts to go, it tends to take everything with it. Against Pakistan too, Yuvraj dropped a catch. The poor fielding is not an aberration. It is a symptom of a player who has lost himself.

That he bowled only one over on spinning tracks is another sign of his declining ability to affect the outcome of a game. The end of a playing career is rarely pretty. The vast majority of international athletes rage against the dying of the light – as they should – but the public spotlight is unforgiving. Every stumble, every misstep is open to examination and judgment. So it is proving to be with Yuvraj, who has already lost his place in India’s Test and one-day sides. Knowing this is the last chance saloon appears to have robbed his game of its spontaneity and exuberance. The old Yuvraj – the one that was Man of the Tournament in the 2011 World Cup - looked like he enjoyed his cricket. There is no joy evident in this Yuvraj. In winning the first two games, India has been fortunate their spinners have bowled as well as they have to set up low-scoring chases. A bigger target would have put more pressure on the batting and No. 4 is a crucial position. Against West Indies, the idea was to give Yuvraj some time in the middle in a match already won, so there was absolutely no pressure. Yet Yuvraj only exposed his struggles further.

There will be tougher games to come in this tournament and India cannot afford to have an out-of-touch Yuvraj in a crunch situation. Ajinkya Rahane would be a more than adequate replacement with the bat while Stuart Binny could fill the slot of another bowling all-rounder, should Dhoni prefer that option. In one-day cricket, Yuvraj averaged just 16.85 from 8 innings over the last 12 months before he was dropped. In the middle of a World Cup, India cannot afford to give him the luxury of playing his way out of the team. Loyalty is an admirable trait but in sports ruthlessness is often necessary when victory is the goal.