Winners in 1983 and finalists in the last tournament, India suffered a 69-run defeat in their crunch Group B match against Sri Lanka and their slim hopes of progressing now hinge on an unlikely defeat for Bangladesh by debutants Bermuda on Sunday.
"It is disappointing. This is not what we deserve," former test batsman and coach Aunshuman Gaekwad told Reuters on Saturday.
"But mistakes made earlier turned out to be very costly," he said, referring to the shock defeat to neighbours Bangladesh last Saturday led to this predicament.
"They didn't play well at all. No partnerships. You don't win matches unless there is a team effort," said the former coach of India's woeful batting display against former champions Sri Lanka.
India were skittled out for 185 in their attempt to chase a challenging total of 254-6.
FUTURE COURSE
Indian cricket board president Shard Pawar said it was time to encourage younger players.
"The time has come to sit, discuss and take future course of action," he told reporters.
"Start encouraging younger players, and provide them more opportunity to play in international games, which will ultimately be helpful in building team, and we will follow this process." added Pawar, who is also an influential Cabinet minister.
"CAPITULATION", ran the page one headline in national daily Hindustan Times with a picture of a dejected Sachin Tendulkar walking back to the pavilion after being dismissed for a duck.
"Super Flop, not Super Eight," screamed the page one headline of the Times of India as it asked, "Bermuda win over Bangla can save us, but do we deserve it?"
The World Cup-frenzy in the country had been fuelled by a multitude of television channels and media houses who have touted the team as favourites and were tracking the action minute-by-minute since the team arrived in the Caribbean.
Television channels reported that Zaheer Khan's restaurant in Pune was stoned while police told Reuters that security had been beefed up outside the residences of Sachin Tendulkar and Ajit Agarkar in Mumbai.
