Kolkata: Victory always tastes sweet and if it comes after braving all odds against a strong opposition, it tastes sweeter. Team India has successfully ended the home season with a Test series victory over the Men from Down Under. Kudos to Virat Kohli and his boys for not succumbing to enormous provocations both on and off the field! This series win is special because it was played under acrimonious circumstances. There was a war of words and the two nations locked horns in the true sense of the term.
The words were not confined to the ground as the Australian media lived up to its name of being a hate-monger. From attacking Kohli and his team to showing illogical bias towards its team, a section of the Australian media stooped to an all-time low. And Steve Smith’s men were not left behind too. Glenn Maxwell crossed the line by poking fun at an injured Kohli in Ranchi. Well, Smith may have apologised for getting carried away but the damage has been done.
Yet, the Indian team stood its ground and faced the adversities head on. Even without Kohli on the ground in the series decider at Dharamsala, the team didn’t panic and with a composed Ajinkya Rahane at the helm, Team India romped home with a comfortable victory to clinch the series. Credit goes to India for showing exemplary character on the field. This team does remind us of Sourav Ganguly’s Team India which won the 2001 Test series against Australia by the same margin 2-1 despite losing the first Test. Kohli’s team got a wake-up call after the loss in Pune but that was required because the team had been on a winning streak before the Pune Test. The guys learnt from their mistakes and beat the Aussies in Bengaluru to level the series.
With due respect to England and New Zealand, this was the toughest series of the season and India’s triumph will surely embolden the boys to face the challenges outside the sub-continent. Team India coach Anil Kumble is of the view that this team can win abroad too and there is no second thought on this. Ganguly’s men made it a habit of winning abroad after the 2001 Test series against Steve Waugh’s team. The series win was a turning point in Indian cricket. Kohli’s boys too have got the firepower after this win and hopefully, they will take this confidence along when they tour England, Australia and South Africa.
Well done Team India! It’s time to celebrate now but ensure you don’t get carried away. Don’t forget, you are the Number 1 Test side which all the more should make you more responsible.