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Team India's tryst with destiny

Vijay Tagore / DNA
Sunday, December 6, 2009 10:30 IST
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Mumbai: It may have taken more than 75 years to become the best Test team in the world but in the end, the moment came faster than expected. A little over half an hour into the final day of the Test and the mission was accomplished. At precisely 10.04am on Sunday, MS Dhoni and his men anointed themselves as the No.1 in the world. For the record, India beat Sri Lanka by an innings and 24 runs to clinch the series 2-0.

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The desire to become the No.1 team must have been pretty strong as India needed only 7.4 overs on the last day of the final Test. Zaheer Khan never looked better in the series and unleashed some unplayable deliveries.

One of them was to Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara. And the team showed they can perhaps do without the new fielding consultant. They were sharp and resilient.
Even as India looked pumped up, the Sri Lankans looked to be in hurry as if they had to catch a return flight home. Skipper Sangakkara, who batted bravely on the fourth day, departed nicking one off Zaheer to Dhoni on the third ball of the day.

The Sri Lanka captain's wicket set the tone for India's victory. Zaheer dismissed Ranganna Herath and Nuwan Kulasekara and Harbhajan Singh had Muttiah Muralitharan caught by Dhoni.

India celebrated the win with a huddle and Sachin Tendulkar, the champion batsman, admitted that he waited all through his 20-year career for this moment. He declared that he is enjoying the moment and is in no mood to think about retirement.

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