India climbs to #1

India won the series against SL and in the process became the #1 team in ICC test rankings. While there is a lot of talking about the #1 spot, I do want not read too much into it. India plays only 2 test matches in the next year (and that too against BangladeshL) and therefore it is unlikely that India will remain #1 for a longer duration of time.

However, the fact that India won two matches by an innings against SL is indeed a expression of supremacy against the islanders. As far as I remember, beating Lanka whether in India or in Lanka has never come easy for India. On the other hand we have been at the receiving hands of Lankan batting (especially Jaya uncle, Attapattu, DeSilva and Ranatunga in the past) and Jayawardene in the recent times.

Indian batting looked rock solid throughout the series barring that first innings in the first match at Ahmedabad. And then we had the Wall, Yuvi and then Dhoni to bail us out. Kanpur and Mumbai were much different though. Sehwag did very well and could have well entered the record books. Anyways, I am sure Sehwag will crack another triple ton before he retires as he has quite some cricket left in him at the moment. Gambhir performed brilliantly too as he got two centuries in the series and so was Rahul Dravid’s performance. Laxman and Yuvi were a bit subdued but then in series where you have such huge totals like 700 being made, a 60 odd is likely to be dwarfed by a 293. Sachin got a century but I wish he would have got another one atleast given the fact that Ponting is chasing him and we are not playing much test cricket.

Among bowlers, Sreesanth was cool in his comeback matches and delivered the opening blows while Zaheer was good too. Bhajji did an OK job though Ojha sa’ab was much better. But again when the batsmen score so many runs, the bowlers always have a cushion and the opposition is always under pressure. So the bowling was good but certainly not great.

However, what pleases me most was the way we beat SL by huge margins in two test matches. As a kid, I have seen Jaya Uncle murdering our bowlers to all parts of the ground (especially that infamous test series in 1997 where he scored a triple and then 199 in the next match). The difference lies in the fact that India have been able to win the series while at that stage Lanka were happy with draws. I mean, how else could someone explain a score like 952/6?

Lankans came here with a very strong team but their spinners were in-effective while their pacers were pedestrian, to say the least. Among their batsmen, Sangakkara himself struggled throughout the series though he tried to redeem himself by hitting a century in the last innings. It was too late by then.

Lankans would definitely not be happy by their performances even though Sangakkara tried to put the blame on the lack of UDRS (Umpire Decision Review System). He said that the non implementation of UDRS was severely detrimental to Lanka and made a difference of 500 runs and a lot of wickets. I am sure Sangakkara’s Insurance Company would be having a terrible time dealing with him if he presents such inflated figues before them as well. On a serious note, UDRS continues to be in its beta version and therefore cannot be taken as a foolproof system. UDRS is being implemented in the other series currently being played and the feedback has been mixed. Infact, I heard that one of the umpires in the Aussie-WI series is so pissed off by the same that he has decided to retire! Poor old chap.

Ojha and Murali were the finds from the series; Murali was a revelation in fact even though he batted in one innings only. Sehwag’s form was tremendous and therefore he made things much easier for the middle order.

It would be interesting to see how the two teams fare in the T20s and the ODIs that follow. I would appreciate if India can continue the ruthless form which they showed in the beginning of the year against SL, but SL in ODIs is no pushover for sure. My money rests with India for some obvious reasons.

All the best to the #1 test team in the world (?????? ).

CT---> Post 1

Well the first week of CT has seen some pretty good and unpredictable cricket. SA has been knocked out and SL is on the brink (two of the pre-tournament favorites). England coming after the 6-1 mauling at the hand of Aussies, have done very well while NZ is also a strong contender to get to semis.

Coming to the Indian team (and it is rather painful to talk about it), we are all but out of the tournament. Theoretically speaking, India does have a decent chance but practically speaking those chances are very slim. And with the current form and talent, we do not deserve to get into semis either. So I would be mighty surprised if we manage to get there.
The problems with the Indian team start with the bowling itself. RP is kind of one dimensional bowler (at least presently) and Ishant Sharma is very low on confidence and form (I am being very generous here). And Bhajji Singh is still basking in the glory of his last fiver which he took in the Compaq Cup final. These bowlers were responsible for Pakistan being able to post 303 and things did not look too good when we were playing Australia today. Overall the standard of bowling is something that makes you cry as an Indian supporter (I am sure I would have been a better bowler had I decided to pursue a career in cricket). The only positive was to see Nehra bowling a good line and getting among wickets and Amit Mishra’s leg spin bowling. The whole bowling department needs a revamp and I think RP and Ishant are going back to domestic cricket for some time now. Sreesanth and Balaji would be making their comebacks (and may be Munaf) against the Aussies when India play them, I believe.

However, the Indian batting which has traditionally been very strong also failed in the game against Pakistan and I doubt whether we would have flourished against Aussies as well. Sachin did little justice to his experience and talent when he fulfilled a 17 year old fast bowler’s wish and Kohli sa’ab was not just up to the task. Dhoni was trapped leg before while he was strolling on the pitch and Yousuf Pathan continues to prove that he just lacks the intent and the determination needed to succeed at international level. Gambhir batted in a beautiful manner and made me feel that atleast there is something to cheer about and so did Dravid and Raina. It was good to see that Dravid knew exactly what his role was and did that to near perfection. Had Raina stayed there for a bit more, things may have been different but who knows. And we also boast of a tail where atleast three batsmen (RP, Nehra and Ishant) do not even know how to hold a bat properly. Of course, the team was handicapped by the absence of Viru and Yuvi but we simply cannot claim to be #1 if we are to depend on a couple of players.
Indian selectors must realise that we need to develop a pool of players who are fit and strong enough to play international cricket. Just think over this, we all know that Yousuf Pathan would most likely not fire under pressure and still he plays in the team. In a country where you have more than 110 crore people, a huge cricket fan base and having IPL like talent finder events, it is shameful that we are struggling to get into semis (we are not getting there). There should be a strict policy of perform or perish and there should be strong competition for even seniors to get into the team. They should be constantly challenged by the younger lot and nobody should take his place for granted.
I wish the selection committee led by Kris Srikanth takes some bold decisions when they pick the team for the next series against Australia (which I doubt).

A little mention for Graeme Smith and his lion-hearted innings against England, something which will be etched in my mind for quite some time. He batted like a champion and perhaps deserves all the applause especially for a team which has crashed out of CT.

Stay tuned for the rest of CT and I would love to see someone like England or NZ to lift the cup. England have played beautifully for the first two matches and let’s see if they can carry the same momentum forward. Pakistan may just do what they have been uttering in their press conferences while Aussies are always a force to reckon.
I would love to be proved wrong in my predictions and would even offer an apology to my team if something contrary to what I have said does happen, but I doubt if that will happen.May the best team win !!

India lifts COMPAQ CUP

A masterly performance by India in the final of Compaq Cup against Sri Lanka saw them lift the trophy and take the honours in this tri-nation tournament. That this triumph comes after the early round exit in the T20 World Cup can only add to the joy of cricket crazy Indian population. Moreover, India also continues to be a consistent performer in ODIs throughout this year and the team does deserve applause.

After the win over NZ and loss to SL in the prelims, it was not going to be easy for India to come back into the finals. But Dhoni called the toss correctly and that is something which would have really pleased him. Sri Lanka is really a strange place to play especially when you are in a day-night contest. Over the past couple of years, the number of times when teams batting second have successfully chased a decent total has really gone down. And hence a lot does depend on the toss. (Also lends support to some theory which Tendular put forward…some 25 over innings…I am sure he was jokingJ). Anyways, India left out Mr. Dinu Karthik after his indifferent performances and brought in Kohli sa’ab. While that was a decent thing to do, the team management showed great vision in asking Dravid to open with Tendulkar.
It is after all a tournament final (matches where Indian record has been pretty bad) and asking a young kid (Kohli sa’ab) to open was definitely not the right thing to do. So the duo of Sachin and Dravid opened the innings and did very well in fact. They kept the scoreboard moving with singles and doubles but did not hesitate to punish the loose ball either. Sachin was at his best with wonderful shorts being played through the covers in particular while Dravid was particularly severe on short stuff either pulling or cutting the same to the boundaries. Dravid even welcomed Mendis with a six (kind of misfield as well) but Indian score started to look really good at that stage. Then came Jayasuriya Uncle and bowled a really slow ball to get rid of Dravid. Dravid departed for a well made 39 and by then he had laid a perfect platform with Sachin from where India could harbour hopes of posting a really challenging total.
Dhoni entered the stage and again that was a really courageous move. He could have failed as well but that did not really bother him and that is what makes him special. People call him “lucky” but I would say that he is a brave guy. Dhoni and Sachin played in a really special manner, collecting singles and doubles and picking up a few boundaries when they were on offer. Sachin batted with tremendous application and reached his 44th ODI hundred. What a feat, man!! Kudos to this special character for an innings of grit under extremely trying circumstances (extreme hot and humid weather, slow pitches and Lanka’s slow bowlers with Uncle Jayasuriya leading the pack). Dhoni went after making a useful 56. While he scored at a decent pace, he also ensured that India did not loose any wickets in the middle overs and therefore had a perfect launch pad to start an assault at some stage in the later part of the innings. Yuvraj came and settled down with Sachin (by then he was using a runnner). Sachin did delay the assault a bit more than expected but it did come in a splendid fashion. Mendis was hit for a six and two reverse swept fours before Sachin eventually got out for a strokeful 138. Yuvraj kept one end while the others came and left but with useful hits from Yuvi and co, India reached a total of 319. 319 was a pretty huge score and it was always going to be too much to chase for SL.

Indian score was built around Sachin and as I have written earlier as well, no words can do justice to the service Sachin has done to Indian cricket. Dravid’s return to ODIs is also pretty successful and it is always good to see a person of his calibre doing well. Dravid is someone who has done everything he has been asked to do (ask him to open the innings, to come at #7 or to keep wickets, the man’s a complete team guy). Dhoni and Yuvraj are the stalwarts of the present times who are supposed to take Indian cricket to greater heights in the future.

After India finished their batting, the general feeling was it is only a matter of time when India lifts the trophy. But India were in for a shock especially with Dilshan and Jayasuriya Uncle hitting the ball to all parts of ground. The fast bowling was pathetic and all of the fast bowlers were willing to run and just bowl. A dropped catch of Uncle did not help either. Finally, it was Bhajji who brought the downfall of dangerous Dilshan (he is really a dangerous batsman, believe me—I don’t praise Lankans so easily J) and later Mahela in his next over. While the Lankans still kept pace with the asking run rate (in fact they were much ahead of it initially), the wickets started to tumble. Uncle went soon after and the score read 85/3 in 11 overs. With three of your really main players back and more than 225 to get, I knew Lanka won’t be able to manage it. Thushara (promoted as pinch hitter) came and hit a few boundaries but then departed and so did Matthews a bit later. So at 131/5, only one team would have won (Teams do win from such positions as well like the Natwest cup final when Yuvi and Kaif combined to demolish the English) but chances of such improbable events are always rare. The fast bowlers did not bowl a decent line or length at all so it was left to India’s slow bowlers (remember it is slow bowlers and NOT spinners). Yuvraj and Raina bowled 14 overs amongst themselves and conceded only 50 while they also managed to get 2 wicktes. Yusuf Pathan got rid of the dangerous Uncle but was very expensive. Bhajji was at his best and picked wickets exactly when a team’s strike bowler should be picking. The pacers were disappointing and so was the level of fielding (run-outs, stumping and catches put down). It was the combined bowling of Bhajji-Yuvi-Raina that brought the Lankan scoring to a halt and with wickets tumbling, Indi won by 46 runs. The batting helped India win this tournament though among the bowlers only Bhajji Singh looked like a bowler of international standard. (Do not count Yuvi or Raina here because slow bowlers like them can only succeed here. Just like Lanka used to employ a lot of its slow bowlers, choke the runs and then win such finals but nobody heard of such bowlers outside Lanka).
So coming up is the Champions trophy and I am sure that would generate a lot of interest. India plays Pakistan, Australia and WI in its pool and it would be a quite a challenge to play in S.Africa. India has fond memories of S.Africa for sure and I am putting my money on India (I simply love India playing in S.Africa, that’s where a lot of our famous victories have come). Let’s wish our team all the luck for the CT and congratulate them on their success in the Compaq Cup.

Indians sent packing

Well, I never thought that within three days of posting my report about the interesting super 8’s, I will have to write something like this :(.
But the unthinkable and unimaginable did happen and India crashed out of T20 WC.
When India was about to begin its chase against England, I said to my friend that India should get to 153. And if they do not get, then obviously they lose and will be out of the competition. But at the same time, they don’t deserve to be in the semis at all then.

The stories of both the matches which India lost have a lot of things in common. The failure of the ‘famed’ batting line-up was central to both the losses. While against Windies, we got off to a poor start and reached only a decent 153 thanks largely to the efforts of Yuvi and Yusuf, against England we could not even reach 153 :(
To blame Dhoni for the failures is not the right thing to do. Of course, some of his moves backfired but as a captain you are not supposed to make the right moves all the time.
So now the issue is who all failed in the competition? The answer is pretty simple…it was a collective failure. While the likes of Raina and Rohit failed in the match against W. Indies (these guys were going through the form of their lives), the bowling was also a very average performance. Zaheer Khan (who was very happy with his bowling form against Ireland) did not do what is expected of a team’s top bowler and Bhajji was not up to the mark as well. Ishant Sharma had a forgettable tournament and I don’t think this format suits him much. He should be going back to Test cricket and try to hone his bowling skills. Dhoni did screwed the innings with a painful innings of 11 off 23 deliveries and with only 153 on board, things were always going to be tight for Indians.
While the W Indies did not begin their chase in a bang-bang manner, they always kept the asking run-rate under check. Gayle and Fletcher could not do much but Bravo was the one who made all the difference. I was just wondering that when cricket experts talk about the present all-rounders, they would inevitably name guys like Flintoff and Kallis and even Yuvraj. But this fellow is at par with the ones mentioned above. He is a proper bowler, has a very good technique as a batsman and very good fielder as well (I remember watching a match between KXIP and MI at PCA stadium, Mohali during IPL-2008 where Bravo took a wonderful catch at long-off to dismiss Yuvraj and immediately became the most hated player among the crowd). Chanderpaul also came good at the end (he does this every time when he plays against India :( ) and W. Indies won comfortably.
Against England, India started with a couple of changes by replacing Pathan and Ojha. While RP deserved to be in, I am not so sure about Jadeja. While the pacers only did a decent job (again Zaheer failing to get some early wickets, though RP bowled beautifully) Jadeja and Bhajji bowled pretty well to restrict England to 153.
However, Jadeja was the difference between both the teams. While bowling he got rid of Peitersen and Bopara but when he was batting, he got rid of everything for India unfortunately. He played an astronomical 35 deliveries and made only 25 and that was a setback to the chase. Yuvraj should have come in the place of Jadeja and things MAY have been different. Yuvraj came and departed soon and then Dhoni and Yusuf just could not find enough boundaries. In the end India lost the match by 3 runs but they never looked like winning. I just read a report in the morning where Yuvraj stated that he wants to bat up the order. Since this did not happen and played a major role in India’s defeat, the media definitely has got something to write against Dhoni.
However, I still stand by what I had said. T20 is an unpredictable format and India just got a taste of this. Last time they won when no one expected them to win and this time, the tables have been turned.
Nevertheless, I stilll back by my team and wish them all the luck for the up coming 4 ODI series against W. Indies (I still do not understand how this series came up).

PS: This is a report by an Indian cricket fanatic and therefore is highly biased :). Don’t expect me to praise anything BUT Indian performances. The wins by W. Indies and England are merely fluke :). This WC is all over for me now :(

All set for super eights !!

As the T20 World Cup super eights round has just begun, I realised that it is indeed the right time for me to get my fingers moving again and put something on my blog. Credit is of course due to some of my friends (Yogesh, Niraj and Prakash ---aaah! What a feeling, these three guys in fact represent three different generations of PI@NIPER) who asked me to write again.

The tournament began on an interesting note with England losing the first match (and then having to receiving a lot of flak from their media), Bangladesh knocked out (they were the ones who were eyeing a win over India, NOT Ireland) and then Australia also following Bangladesh. While Bangladesh delivers an on-off kind of performance, the Australians were not expected to make an early exit. However, to put it in simple words, the Aussies do not have the fire power now that they used to have. Their seniors have retired and the juniors simply are not good enough. Add to this, the fact that the ones who are actually good also have other serious businesses like fishing, having a drink and may be, they are planning their future with IPL.
The eight teams which have made it to super 8’s are more or less the ones which were expected to cross the first hurdle. Ireland is a surprise inclusion but I can only be delighted by this because I can now support two teams whole heartedly.
The teams can be divided into 2 groups and the one where India is now placed is indeed a bit tough. We will be playing West Indies, England and South Africa. While MS Dhoni would be busy making plans for each one of them, the most unpredictable of all these is West Indies, for sure. India will be playing them tomorrow and it won’t be an easy task to go pass them. Of course everyone knows by now what Gayle can do to the opponent’s bowlers. WI also has a good batting line-up boosting of Chanderpaul and Sarwan (people who have flourished against India, though in Test matches) and the new opener Fletcher. Bravo is an ideal all rounder and therefore the team is pretty strong overall. Their bowling however is not up to the mark and this is one area which India must look to capitalise. Also the bowling at the start of the innings needs to be very disciplined and tight because if Gayle and Fletcher get going, then things would be very hard to control.
The next team India faces is England on this Sunday and the English would be pretty fired up as well. They lost their first match to S. Africa and therefore for the second time are on the brink of elimination. Last time, when they were in a similar situation, they responded in a terrific manner when they beat Pakistan last Sunday. Hopefully, they won’t be able to repeat the heroics. The English team is a decent combination but definitely weaker to India on paper and therefore India will definitely start as favourites.
Then, India faces S.Africa on Tuesday in what would be their toughest match so far. The Proteas are one of the most balanced teams in the world right now and the match between India and S.Africa will test the Indians. It is not easy to envision but I actually cannot rule out the possibility of India in a situation like the one in Super Sixes in 2007 World Cup. India went into match knowing fully well that they need to win to make it to the semis while S. Africa just needed to play the game and lose by a not-too-huge margin. What followed was a memorable performance by the Indians and the catch which Dinesh Karthik took to remove Smith will always be there in my list of top cricket catches. India won comprehensively as Rohit Sharma marked his arrival to international cricket, RP Singh bowled a wonderful spell and India eventually shut the doors for the S. Africans.

Well, the million dollar question right now is…Who is going to win the World Cup this time? I won’t be surprised if India does it again but won’t be amazed either if India does not make it to the semis. The issue is the unpredictability associated with this format of the game and hence there is no such thing as clear favourites. However, this does not mean that this is a mere tullebaazi competition (some Pakistani great said this) nor does this mean that matches are fixed in this format (another Pakisatani great said this). The thing is being able to master this format and develop a pool of players who can perform well at this level. This would include batsmen who have a decent technique but can hit big (Yuvraj Singh- an ideal example of this), bowlers who can take wickets and bowl tight lines (Zaheer Khan among pacers and Ojha among spinners presently), a thinking and innovative captain (who else but MS Dhoni) and lastly some good fielders who back their bowlers (mmmmm..mmmmm…who would fit in here ?? Probably Yuvraj and Rohit). Fianlly, some lucky mascot like Joginder Sharma (India’s lethal bowler…..lethal to India and not to the opposition :) ) always comes handy.
To conclude, India does have all the ammunition that is needed to perform a repeat of 2007. But a couple of sub-standard performances can send India packing just as the World Champions suffered an early exit.
Stay tuned and wish India the best of everything.
Jai Ho !!!!

A memorable Kiwi tour..

India won the Test series 1-0 to complete their most successful tour outside the sub-continent for quite some time now. And though the weather Gods denied them a victory, the team and the fans are still more than happy from the showing. India lost only the T20 matches and their domination was complete in both the series that followed.
The third match began on a very positive note for India as MS Dhoni returned from an injury to captain the side. After being put into bat, India started off decently but then could not stitch some long partnerships and at one stage were really in trouble at 204/6. However Dhoni batted well with the tail and the rub of green also went India’s way with Bhajji’s edges finding boundaries more often than not. However Bhajji also showed some sense of purpose and resolve to stay at the crease to make a useful 60. Zaheer also batted well for his 33 and so did the rest of the tailenders. At the end of Day 1, India were 375/9 and NZ had easily frittered away the advantage that they had at one stage. India were all out for 379 as Day 2 commenced. NZ batsmen were now expected to put up a really brave show if they were to harbour any hopes of squaring the series. However, some wonderful swing bowling by Zaheer and some lack of application of NZ batsmen were on display as the NZ first innings folded on Day 2 itself. It was some terrible batting and some equally good bowling as the Kiwis lost the plot miserably and handed India a substantial lead of 182 runs. Zaheer bowled beautifully for his 5 wickets and so did Bhajji for his 3. India again went in to bat and though they lost Sehwag early, they were still in a very comfortable position at the end of Day 2. The next day saw a familiar display of batting by the Indian batsmen as they looked to shut the doors for the Kiwis. Dravid batted well for his 60 and so did Laxman for his 62, though Sachin had a rare failure. The day however undoubtedly belonged to Gautam Gambhir who made people stand and notice his extra-ordinary batting skills. While he saved the last test match with his gritty knock, this knock was perfectly tailored to the situation and he made sure that India is going to bat NZ out of this game. At the close of Day 3, India held a massive lead of 531 runs and convential wisdom would have suggested that India declared. However Dhoni decided to bat for some more time on Day 4 and the Kiwis were asked to chase a target of 617. The Kiwis started cautiously, lost some wickets then and finished the day at 167/4. With three sessions to bat, some moderate batsmen to come and a very good bowling attack, Kiwis were all set to loose but fate had other plans. Due to persistent rain in the post lunch session, play had to be called off and Kiwis could manage a draw.
Dhoni’s timing of declaration is now a subject of debate though this is now a matter of trivial importance as India won the series and the outcome of the match was not vital unless India lost. Well, Dhoni did not do the right thing by delaying the declaration but there was plenty of time on offer so, he may have been a bit casual. Despite this, Indian fielders were in a bit of holiday mode on Day 5 and that may have affected the outcome as well. India won the series 1-0 in the end and completed a memorable tour to NZ, something that will remain a benchmark for years to come.

The positives that emerged from this tour are very very encouraging. Firstly, the successes especially in the Test series were a collective effort. The opening stand was not particularly good but Gambhir showed the way. Sehwag did not use his brain at all in the series and therefore had a very ordinary one. However, the middle order fired on a regular basis as Dravid made a statement after some indifferent scores last year. Laxman also batted very well and Sachin Tendulkar just looked like getting younger. Yuvraj, though did not do justice to his talent, nor was he able to stake a claim as a Test batsman. From bowling point of view, the picture is pretty rosy. Zaheer looks like a hunter who is looking for a prey all the time while Ishant was tidy. It was his first tour to NZ and some experience is always going to help the youngster. Munaf had a far better approach than he had in ODIs and played an ideal third seamer. Bhajji bowled beautifully and did not let the absence of Anil Kumble to be felt. It is not easy to fill the void that has been created by Jumbo’s retirement but Bhajji did well to finish as the highest wicket taker from either side with a tally of 16 wickets. Dravid also made the world record for the highest number of catches and I have all the praise for this person who has held some beautiful catches in the slips to help the Indian cause. Gambhir was the best choice for the Man of the Series trophy because he announced his arrival to the opening slot in test cricket in this series only with two contrasting centuries.
Indian team lived to its full potential and therefore pocketed both the series. The action now shifts to the IPL and I would be covering only a few matches of the same (as if I am a cricinfo reporter :)). Let’s hope that the action continues and there is some really good cricket to be watched (on Set Max) and to be read (where else but right here :))
Good bye guys ! Thanks for reading and commenting…
See you soon !!

India start with a bang.....

India won the first test in an emphatic manner with a day to spare and reinforced the belief that they are indeed much superior to the Kiwis at the moment. That the Indians dominated almost each and every session of the match is another fact to support their domination over the proceedings. However, a test victory in NZ came after a long gap of 33 years is something hard to believe actually. Does that mean that no Indian team that ever toured NZ after Pataudi’s team was good enough to win a test match there? However, I do believe that winning a test match in NZ was more of a mental block than anything else. And the way, the current team is on a roll, it is indeed difficult for any team to pose a challenge to them.

Dhoni won the toss and decided to field first. Indians generally have been poor starters in a Test series abroad, especially when they start a tour with the Test series. However, this was not the case this time and Dhoni’s decision had more to do with an attacking intent of picking wickets rather than being a defensive one of shielding his batsmen from the early moisture in the pitch. The Indians seamers made a very good use of the conditions and the Kiwis were 61/6 by the end of the first session. That was a very decisive moment in the larger context of the result of the match. Kiwis were undone by some very good exhibition of pace bowling by the Indian trio of Zaheer, Ishant and Munaf and they were literally in shambles. The susbsequent sessions saw a rearguard action by Ryder and Vettori and they managed a pretty decent total of 279. Vettori and Ryder both got to their centuries and that was some consolation for both of them. Vettori indeed is a wonderful batsman especially in the tests and I have lost count of the number of occasions he has helped NZ to recover from some batting collapses (the latest being the Test series against minnows Bangladesh). Indian bowling was very disciplined and the bowlers made full use of the moisture present in the first session. As the day progressed, the pitch became better for batting and hence the centuries from Vettori and Ryder. Ishant was pick of the bowlers picking 4 wickets and its always good to see the youngster doing well. His presence as an attacking bowler in the Indian bowling department is something to cheer about. He also forms a pretty lethal opening attack with Zaheer Khan. Munaf is good bowler from a test match perspective and the bowlers overall did very well. India had to bat out seven overs in the Day 1 and the openers started their innings in pretty much one day mode with Sehwag being in a ruthless mood. India ended day one in a strong position having bundled the Kiwis for a rather modest 279 and scoring 29 without losing any wicket.

When Day 2 began, all eyes were on Sehwag, as the dashing opener from Delhi looked like murdering another hapless Kiwi attack. However, he was run out, courtesy some stupid calling by Gautam Gambhir, and in walked Rahul “The Wall” Dravid. The duo batted with a very sensible approach and steadied the innings. Gambhir departed for a well made 72 and deserve some praise for his batting as well. He consistently walked down the pitch to negate the swing that the bowlers could get and also was intelligent enough to put the run-out behind him. India later lost Dravid and Laxman by the close of play but they had touched the NZ first innings score by then and Sachin and Yuvi were still there. Day 2 also belonged to India, and it was good to see none of the batsmen getting carried away. All were willing to work hard for their runs, and it was a day of vintage test cricket.
When Day 3 began, Sachin was the cynosure of all eyes as he looked all set to get another hundred. Sachin began on a very confident note and hit some boundaries to make sure that he did not have to labour to the nineties. While Yuvi was out soon, Sachin continued to motor along with Dhoni at the other end. He reached his century soon and put on a valuable 115 run partnership with Dhoni. That was the stage where NZ started heading towards a sure defeat. Even when Dhoni got out, the Indian tail continued to wag with the likes of Bhajji and other bowlers chipping in with some invaluable runs. Zaheer made a very important and quick fifty and Sachin made a masterful 160. India amassed a huge total in 520 and looked on their way to achieve something which had eluded them for quite some time.
With a very handy lead of 241, NZ were always going to be under pressure. Their second note began on a disastrous note as McIntosh was out in the first over of Zaheer. Guptill batted well, but kind of threw his wicket to Bhajji and the tailender Mills could not survive the last over. At the close of third day’s play, India again held a position of complete advantage and supreme control and things looked pretty bad from the Kiwis’ perspective.
When play resumed on Day 4, it merely looked like a question of when and not how. NZ lost the wickets of Taylor and Ryder in the first session itself, and the writing was pretty much on the wall for Kiwis. Bhajji Singh bowled beautifully and from 199/8, the Kiwis did very well to reach to 279. McCullum did well for his 84, but then again it was only a question of delaying the inevitable. With a meagre target of 39 to chase, Gambhir and Dravid did the job in less than 6 overs to seal a memorable win.

For India, the win once again helped them stake their claim for the BEST side in the world. This stupendous victory was achieved by contribution from all the players and therefore is even more special. While Day 1 belonged to the Indian pace attack, Day 2 and 3 were set up by meaningful and substantial knocks by almost all the batsmen. Sachin lead the pack and I don’t think I can write any words that will do justice to all that he has done for Indian cricket. The man has donned the mantle of Indian batting for several years and he just refuses to bow down to anything. Way to go Sachin !
Day 4 was again marked by a wonderful display of spin bowling from Bhajji Singh, and it was good to see him getting into the role of India’s lead spinner by performance and not just by default. Indian pace attack lived up to the expectation and so did the Indian batting line-up. While Zaheer and Ishant can challenge the best of batsmen, we also have a very good spinner in Bhajji Singh. He bowled beautifully and once again made me fall in love with the art of spin bowling (The first time he did was in the infamous World Cup Final in 2003 when he had Hayden caught behind by Dravid).

If you are a NZ supporter, then things would look disappointing to you, to say the least. However, NZ are a very young team at the moment, and they have a long way to go. In Flynn and Ryder, they have atleast two new batsmen who belong to the Test cricket arena. Vettori is also more like a batsman these days and provides some strength to the lower order. However, their bowling looked very ordinary and Kyle Mills was the biggest disappointment of the match. He is the senior bowler in this bowling attack but looked like the least experienced of all. O’Brein was the one who impressed the most among the Kiwi bowlers. Even Vettori had a moderate outing, but then not many spinners fancy their chances against India. There would be at least a couple of changes in the team which faces India in the next Test. For India, the only concern is the injury to Sachin Tendulkar. Otherwise, India looks like the team to put your money on. Unless NZ raise the level of their game significantly, it is going to be another walk in the park for India at Napier.