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Indian cricket faces judgement time with the first Test against Australia now under way.
The four-match series will decide whether India's much-touted strong batting line-up will measure up to a fiercely competitive Australian side.
Back in the 2004-2005 season, India did themselves proud by drawing the series 1-1. India's top order showed class coupled with aggression.
The feared Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath are not part of the attack anymore. But Brett Lee is there along with the new fast bowling sensation Shaun Tait.
This will provide recipe for a feast of short-pitched bowling which bothers even the best batsmen in the world. India's top order is now in the veteran category and may be more inclined to ducking and weaving rather than hooking and pulling.
Aggression will the key to India's success. The Aussies don't like it when teams go hard at them. India must remember this from the series three years ago.
The sight of Virender Sehwag smiting it hard and high must surely be etched in the memory of the team. A repeat dose will be needed. And Sehwag will be there to remind them of it, thanks to a rare initiative shown by the Indian selectors.
Another plus factor for the Indians is that all the top order batsmen have found form just before the series. There were some brilliant knocks from them during the series victory against Pakistan.
India must fit in Yuvraj Singh for all the Tests. The left-hander has the spirit and daring of youth to take on the Australian attack.
Yuvraj may well be the key player for India. With Sehwag now more out than in the team, he could do what Sehwag did well.
If India do manage to fit in Sehwag too, then the Australians are sure to get a run for their money.
India's old warhorses are on their last tour to Australia. They will seek to leave a permanent mark in Australia.
Sachin Tendulkar is batting almost like his old self once again. He must not go into his shell because that has proved to be disastrous for him. Though age may have slowed his reflexes a tad, he still has those lovely shots to choose from.
V V S Laxman has always done well in Australia and he will seek to reinforce that. His form has also been good and he feels far more relaxed after winning a vote of confidence from skipper Anil Kumble.
India will also hope that Saurav Ganguly will continue his great run in Tests. Ganguly is batting better as he grows older. Though he dislikes the short-pitched stuff, his good form may help him deal positively with it.
India's main worry at the moment is Rahul Dravid. The former skipper has lost form after giving up the captaincy. But Dravid has such sound technique that it will be only a matter of time before the runs will start ticking again.
There is also talk that Dravid may well get the opener's slot to accommodate Yuvraj. That should not be a problem because Dravid can bat anywhere.
That may well leave the incumbent opener Dinesh Karthik in a limbo. Karthik's poor from recently may well go against him.
India's main worry will always be on two fronts - bowling and fielding. The bowlers have been known to get overexcited by the bouncy Australian pitches and have tended to bowl short without speed to back it up.
Kumble may well have a key role to play being a bowler himself. The captain must impress on his bowlers that nothing can substitute line and length with the bouncer being used as a surprise weapon.
If the Indian bowlers use brain instead of brawn, then success is bound to follow.
India's fielding will be cause for worry. There is a tendency to drop catches at crucial junctures, which must be avoided at all costs.
Some of the elder statesmen are not exactly Carl Lewis on the field. Even some of the younger lot are laborious. This means that extra effort will be required because no team can afford to give chances to the Australian batsmen.
A cricket feast is in store for certain. The team from the Sub-Continent will hope that this will be an Indian summer Down Under.
