Well played, India!

21 January 2008

CONGRATS to the Indian team for defeating the Australians in their home ground. Though India have lost the rubber, defeating Australia on their own soil needs to be applauded as Australians are known fighters and do not like to loose any match they play.

They are a formidable team and a determined bunch of players, especially on their own turf. India, after all the fuss and misunderstanding of Sydney, deserves credit for pulling one back from Australia and breaking their vicious winning streak since 2005. Cricket is known to be such an unpredictable game and it is surprising that the players who were struggling to secure a place in the playing eleven played the crucial role and one of them was even elected as the man of the match.

Nonetheless, the team effort and enthusiasm of the young blood did make a difference. Also, one needs to look at the captaincy of Anil Kumble and the smart decisions made by his group. When everybody expected India to field, they surprisingly elected to bat. Bringing unorthodox bowler Shewag to break a vital, promising partnership, and consistently juggling the attack, all contributed in no small manner to achieving victory.

Sometimes experiments fail and sometimes they are successful. So, it is thumbs up for Indians now. One would expect them to maintain this rejuvenated grit and continue winning and satisfy cricket loving fans back home and elsewhere.

— Ahsan Ghori, Abu Dhabi