Even a seemingly interminable sequence of defeats hasn’t dulled their enthusiasm. But even on the eve of the final Test, they weren’t entirely familiar with all the faces in the squad. “Is that Dinesh Karthik?” enquired a man in chequered shorts and grey t-shirt. “I didn’t know he was in the team.”

Training had only just begun. Only one net was occupied. In it was Ajinkya Rahane, skipping back and across to defend Pragyan Ojha into the off side. Rahane has been in Australia for more than a month, and attended every net session.

As has Rohit Sharma. On Sunday, Rohit had arrived a full 15 minutes before anyone else, and shadow practiced till the arrival of DGVI Raghavindra, the throwdown man. On Monday, Virender Sehwag confirmed what everyone knew already: Rohit wasn’t one of the twelve in the running for the Adelaide Test.

The WACA was reckoned to be too hostile an environment for a debutant. The Adelaide Oval is Australia’s most batting-friendly venue. After three Tests, three of India’s middle order average less than 30 for the series, and one of them less than 20. With little left to play for but pride, change might have done India no harm. Their next away Test is in November 2013.

But at a juncture like this, putting emotion above cold logic isn’t a bad idea. Rohit Sharma versus VVS Laxman at 0-3 is a very different contest to Rohit Sharma versus VVS Laxman when the series was still alive. Then, even an out-of-form Laxman may have edged it on the basis of his experience, his record in Australia and his unparalleled ability to turn up the magic when his aching back is mashed into the proverbial wall.

No choice

Those things don’t really matter now. What matters, as the series draws to a close, and as Laxman’s career draws to a close, is that VVS Laxman is VVS Laxman. Dropping him at this point is not done — even if this VVS Laxman clearly isn’t the VVS Laxman.

Watching him bat during this series has sometimes been a stomach-clenching wait to see how long it will take for him to poke hesitantly away from his body.

But ahead of the fourth Test, Laxman has been spending even more time at the nets than he usually does. On the day the Indians arrived in Adelaide, when no training was scheduled, he faced a long throwdown session at the indoor nets. He has prepared most methodically, whether Adelaide is a bid for survival or his farewell Test.

During last year’s Ashes, England kept persisting with an out-of-form Paul Collingwood despite calls to drop him in favour of Eoin Morgan. At the end of the Test series, Collingwood retired.

“The part of a cricketer you don’t see is the part away from the cricket ground,” said his teammate Matt Prior after he made the announcement. “Everyone will know the stats and the important innings he’s played, the great catches he’s taken and the wickets he’s taken. But it’s what a bloke like Colly brings to the dressing room, he’s definitely been one of the catalysts of why this team is where it is right now, and why the team spirit is like it is.”

Off-field importance