India, Feb. 20 -- Australia's early exit from the T20 World Cup has sparked widespread debate about a team so often associated with dominance. For a nation that has built its reputation on thriving at ICC events, a group-stage elimination feels jarring. It is just the second time Australia have fallen at the first hurdle in a global tournament, the last occurring in 2009. Such an outcome represents an uncommon dip for a side used to setting the benchmark on the world stage. Fans have been left stunned, and the spotlight is firmly on what went wrong during a campaign that promised far more than it delivered.

The defeat to Zimbabwe proved to be a reality check for Australia. Critics argued that the side appeared more invested in red-ball p...