Under-achiever? Maybe a planning issue as well. He could have contributed a lot as a change seamer, supporting the two frontliners, which would allow the team to play two spinners instead of one so often. Also, given his success as an opener in ODI's, against Test-class bowling (the attacks he faced included McGrath, Gillespie, Lee, Akram, Waqar, Akhtar, Gough, Caddick, Pollock and Donald), he could have opened in Tests as well. We've seen lesser players who've opened in one-dayers also doing a good job at the top in their Test teams. At least one of two problems persistently plaguing the Indian team could be solved, had there been some innovative thinking and hard decisions taken.
And of course, he was a major under-achiever as a fielder, and that weakened the Indian ODI side, despite the runs scored.