New Delhi: Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram feels that the playing conditions in Sydney and Perth in the ongoing Test series between India and Australia exposed the "physical inadequacies of an ageing cricketer."

Perth: Opening batsman Gautam Gambhir lashed back at critics blaming VVS Laxman for India's batting debacle, saying the entire veteran batting lineup must take the responsibility for the letting their nation down.

With Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir at the top of the order, India have been blessed with an intimidating opening pair which more than played its part in the team's escalation to the top of the ladder in Tests in recent times.

The ICC World Cup victory was the pinnacle of success but hosting the inaugural Indian F1 Grand Prix was a shot in the arm for private sports entrepreneurship!

In another roller-coaster year for Indian sport, the nation climbed the peak of success, tasted the depths of despair and zip, zap and zoomed into the fast lane of pomp and grandeur. Cricket, a national obsession, proved to be a great leveller while India’s dream of hosting a Formula One race finally came true. But what is sport without controversy? To adopt or not to adopt the National Sports Bill and the never-ending power struggle in Indian hockey remained the low points in what was otherwise a memorable 2011.

The commercialisation of sport is making a great impact on India as global boundaries shrink almost every day. The country’s economic maturity and the growing propensity for corporates to ride the goodness and attraction of sports have already made India a global destination as the biggest brands seek to exploit a market pregnant with numerous opportunities.