Win underlines India’s new self-belief

India’s fourth-innings chase of 387 runs for victory in the first Test may not have acquired the needle edge that everybody had anticipated, but so thrilling was the batting performance and so authoritative the victory that this match is unlikely to be forgotten for decades.

Played against the backdrop of the terror attack in Mumbai followed by a fortnight’s suspense about England’s participation, the match had several emotional dimensions to it, none more evocative than Sachin Tendulkar dedicating his 41st century to the city of his birth. This would surely have found resonance throughout the country.

In plain cricketing terms too, this match had stellar virtues. For four days, the pendulum swung one way, then the other, and just when England seemed to have got the upper hand decisively, India struck back so tellingly that even Big Ben in faraway London would have tolled in acknowledgement.

Viru Sehwag’s 83 on Sunday set the tenor of India’s bold victory bid which Yuvraj Singh’s sledgehammer blows on Monday helped to complete. Yet, neither Sehwag nor Yuvraj would have been effective without a sublime Tendulkar playing the fulcrum. This was masterly stuff from someone who has been at the business for two decades with great success, yet has had doubting Thomases questioning his ability in a crisis. That cynicism must now stand demolished.

Barring Rahul Dravid, who must now see his future imperilled, every team member had some contribution to make, not least skipper MS Dhoni, who batted and led with astuteness and maturity to win his fourth successive Test. 

There have been only three other instances in the 130-odd years of Test history where teams have won chasing bigger scores — and none in India. In itself, this marks Monday’s six-wicket victory as exceptional. But that should not obscure the bigger story emerging from this win — which is of the phenomenal rise in stature of Indian cricket this year.

This victory comes on the heels of an emphatic 2-0 triumph over Australia, and while even a victory in the second Test at Mohali will not alter the ICC rankings (India are No 2), there is a growing feeling in the cricket world that India are currently top of the pops. The team boasts of the best opening pair in the business, the best spinners, the best middle order, a terrific pair of fast bowlers, and an aggressive, inspiring captain.

Yet, it is not just talent which has helped India’s ascent; it is self-belief. In the ‘bad’ old days, beating Australia 2-0 would have been unthinkable, and chasing 387 in four sessions impossible. Now, everything seems a cinch.

England, who looked like they might stop Dhoni’s juggernaut in Chennai, will reflect on this. They had the match in their grasp but squandered the advantage with their pusillanimity on the fourth day. Instead of going for the kill, they became tentative, inexplicably scoring only 57 runs in the second session, and paid a heavy price.