Shoaib Malik’s Class of 2007 has universally been labelled the weakest Pakistan team ever to tour India. That assessment is not far off the mark, but it must also be said that they were made to look positively pedestrian by an Indian side that played to its batting potential, and simply buried the opposition under an avalanche of runs. If Pakistan are honest to themselves, they will concede that the 2-3 one-day verdict and the 0-1 Test scoreline are flattering. Pakistan were truly outplayed in both versions. Only the grit and gumption of Misbah-ul-Haq and Kamran Akmal, as well as the placidity of the Kolkata and Bangalore strips, prevented a more embarrassing Test drubbing. India’s first Test series win at home in 27 years against their cross-border rivals is another feather in Anil Kumble’s cap.

On his captaincy debut, the leg-spinner led with intelligence and imagination, bringing the best out of every member, besides leading by example. Without either Rahul Dravid or Sachin Tendulkar firing on all cylinders, India touched 600 twice in a row for the first time ever with Sourav Ganguly in the forefront on both occasions. The three former skippers will need to be on top of their game when India travel to Australia in the next couple of days for what will inarguably be a far stiffer challenge.

The world champions are always a potent entity, and particularly at home, where they have been undefeated for nearly a decade and a half now. India’s selectors needed to unearth an ideal combination to stop Ricky Ponting’s men. Almost through accident, they might have pulled off a masterstroke in the selection of the beleaguered Virender Sehwag. The flamboyant opener has been out of Test favour since this January, but once Gautam Gambhir had been ruled out with a sore shoulder, he automatically came into the picture. As Australia themselves will testify, Sehwag on song is a destructive force that mows down everything in its path. India will need to counter Australia’s fire with some of their own. Sehwag’s choice is a huge gamble, but there is some logic too behind that risk. The accomplished middle-order will need help to blunt the Aussie edge, and who better to provide that than the explosive right-hander? The spate of injuries to quick bowlers meant the selectors’ hands were tied to a degree. Few from outside the 16 chosen will bear a genuine grudge; whether the chosen ones deliver the goods is another matter altogether.