<p>World number one versus two, with not just the series but the top ranking on the line. In the end, it was India’s greater hunger and desire which carried the day, if only just, as the Eden Gardens threw up another classic. <br /><br />Whilst not being cut from the same cloth as the India-Australia epic of nine years back, the second Test against the South Africans reiterated the point that, in their own backyard and egged on by the 12th man in the roaring crowd, India are a gathering force.<br /><br />Post Nagpur, India faced a huge test of character. Even accounting for the absence of massive names in the middle-order, India had been comprehensively outclassed by Graeme Smith’s team in the first Test. The turnaround, in just four days, was therefore all the more creditable, shaped by the senior stars with promising newcomers playing their part.<br /><br />In defeat, South Africa weren’t disgraced, even if the margin of an innings and 57 runs was fairly comprehensive. Hashim Amla typifying the proverbial immovable object, the Proteas came within minutes of denting India’s extraordinary home record and wresting the number one crown; to their eternal credit, Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men never lost heart, not even when Amla and last man Morne Morkel were involved in a splendid rearguard action that ruled out the Eden as a venue for the faint-hearted on a tension-soaked Thursday.<br /><br />There is a certain feel-good factor about playing in specific venues that brings the best out of individuals, and teams. India have had more than reasonable success at the Eden; VVS Laxman and Harbhajan Singh have had nothing but success here, and unsurprisingly, the two men who established themselves as household names during that memorable contest against Australia in 2001 were again in the limelight.<br />Laxman’s 15th century, a veritable stroke-making feast for the connoisseur, was matched by Harbhajan’s match haul of eight for 123, his second-innings five for 59 a lion-hearted display under tremendous pressure, made more special because India were without the injured Zaheer Khan. While the two ‘Eden boys’ were in their elements, there were other significant contributors too as India made South Africa pay for their audacity in questioning home hegemony.<br /><br />Proud coach<br />“We didn’t become the number one team for nothing,” a proud coach Gary Kirsten remarked. “We’ve got guys that are breaking records in world cricket. We are very proud of our performances. <br /><br />“We had a wobble in the last Test, but we bounced back here. The guys were really determined. The guys have shown for a while now, in the last 18 months, that when they have their backs against the wall, they can bounce back. I’m excited with our performance in this Test.”<br /><br />Of all the teams that have toured India, few have shown the adaptability and belief in their own traditional strengths like the South Africans have. They have won a Test on every visit to India barring in a two-Test showdown in 2004, and it required a dustbowl in Kanpur to prevent them from completing a series triumph in 2008.<br /><br />This Eden pitch, however, was no designer track. Despite pressure from various quarters, curator Prabir Mukherjee stuck to his guns, producing a quality strip that, typically, got slower as the game wore on but continued to keep the bowlers interested with good bounce. Even on day five, the ball seldom misbehaved; this was a victory achieved fair and square, impeccable in its conception and convincing in its execution.<br /><br />“We have learnt that if we fight till the end, we can do special things,” observed Harbhajan, reflecting on a job well done. <br /><br />“Everyone was up for a fight, we knew that it was an important game for all of us. There has been a lot of talk about us, people saying it was a fluke to be the number one side. It was not a fluke at all. We have worked really hard to reach the top, and today we have shown the world that we deserve to be number one.”<br /><br />Can’t argue with that now, can you? There are problem areas, issues to be addressed and work to be done, but that can wait a while. For now, it’s time, however brief, to celebrate staying at the top. And then embrace the 50-over mindset.<br /></p>
<p>World number one versus two, with not just the series but the top ranking on the line. In the end, it was India’s greater hunger and desire which carried the day, if only just, as the Eden Gardens threw up another classic. <br /><br />Whilst not being cut from the same cloth as the India-Australia epic of nine years back, the second Test against the South Africans reiterated the point that, in their own backyard and egged on by the 12th man in the roaring crowd, India are a gathering force.<br /><br />Post Nagpur, India faced a huge test of character. Even accounting for the absence of massive names in the middle-order, India had been comprehensively outclassed by Graeme Smith’s team in the first Test. The turnaround, in just four days, was therefore all the more creditable, shaped by the senior stars with promising newcomers playing their part.<br /><br />In defeat, South Africa weren’t disgraced, even if the margin of an innings and 57 runs was fairly comprehensive. Hashim Amla typifying the proverbial immovable object, the Proteas came within minutes of denting India’s extraordinary home record and wresting the number one crown; to their eternal credit, Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men never lost heart, not even when Amla and last man Morne Morkel were involved in a splendid rearguard action that ruled out the Eden as a venue for the faint-hearted on a tension-soaked Thursday.<br /><br />There is a certain feel-good factor about playing in specific venues that brings the best out of individuals, and teams. India have had more than reasonable success at the Eden; VVS Laxman and Harbhajan Singh have had nothing but success here, and unsurprisingly, the two men who established themselves as household names during that memorable contest against Australia in 2001 were again in the limelight.<br />Laxman’s 15th century, a veritable stroke-making feast for the connoisseur, was matched by Harbhajan’s match haul of eight for 123, his second-innings five for 59 a lion-hearted display under tremendous pressure, made more special because India were without the injured Zaheer Khan. While the two ‘Eden boys’ were in their elements, there were other significant contributors too as India made South Africa pay for their audacity in questioning home hegemony.<br /><br />Proud coach<br />“We didn’t become the number one team for nothing,” a proud coach Gary Kirsten remarked. “We’ve got guys that are breaking records in world cricket. We are very proud of our performances. <br /><br />“We had a wobble in the last Test, but we bounced back here. The guys were really determined. The guys have shown for a while now, in the last 18 months, that when they have their backs against the wall, they can bounce back. I’m excited with our performance in this Test.”<br /><br />Of all the teams that have toured India, few have shown the adaptability and belief in their own traditional strengths like the South Africans have. They have won a Test on every visit to India barring in a two-Test showdown in 2004, and it required a dustbowl in Kanpur to prevent them from completing a series triumph in 2008.<br /><br />This Eden pitch, however, was no designer track. Despite pressure from various quarters, curator Prabir Mukherjee stuck to his guns, producing a quality strip that, typically, got slower as the game wore on but continued to keep the bowlers interested with good bounce. Even on day five, the ball seldom misbehaved; this was a victory achieved fair and square, impeccable in its conception and convincing in its execution.<br /><br />“We have learnt that if we fight till the end, we can do special things,” observed Harbhajan, reflecting on a job well done. <br /><br />“Everyone was up for a fight, we knew that it was an important game for all of us. There has been a lot of talk about us, people saying it was a fluke to be the number one side. It was not a fluke at all. We have worked really hard to reach the top, and today we have shown the world that we deserve to be number one.”<br /><br />Can’t argue with that now, can you? There are problem areas, issues to be addressed and work to be done, but that can wait a while. For now, it’s time, however brief, to celebrate staying at the top. And then embrace the 50-over mindset.<br /></p>
