'Privileged to be part of this side'

Playing their 432nd match, India thus became the sixth team in the world to score 100 Test wins.

Having had the honour of leading India to their milestone triumph, Mahendra Singh Dhoni appeared humbled as he spoke of the contributions of players past and present. “The 100th win is very important for me, it is a privilege to be a part of this side,” the Jharkhandi said. “But this feat has come about because of the 250 players that played before me, and a few others after me. Fortunately, I am the captain right now but contributions have come from hundreds of players. Because of their consistency, we are in a position like this right now. We are thankful to all the current and former players for where we stand today.”

India took just 63 Tests and less than six years between their 75th victory, in Adelaide against Australia in December 2003, and their 100th one. “A lot has been said about how Indian teams don’t travel well. But over the last few years, we have done well wherever we have gone. That’s a big positive step. We have players who have been in the side for last 10-15 years, they have played everywhere in the world. That’s one of the main reasons why we are doing well right now. We have the talent and we are playing to our potential.”

Informed erroneously that India had become joint number one in the ICC Test ratings, Dhoni looked ahead to the Mumbai Test beginning on Wednesday. “Every game is important, irrespective of your status. There is some added responsibility if you are the number one side, but it is important to maintain your performance. We don’t think a lot about the numbers.”
An ICC spokesman clarified that Test ratings are updated only at the conclusion of a series, and that India will ascend the throne only if they win in Mumbai and complete a 2-0 series triumph.

India’s milestone wins
Win    Opponents (Venue)    Date    Result               
1    England (Chennai)    10 Feb,1952    Innings & 8 runs
25    N Zealand (Chennai)    2 Dec,1976    216 runs
50    S Lanka   (Lucknow)    22 Jan,1994    Innings & 119 runs
75    Australia (Adelaide)    16 Dec, 2003    4 wickets
100    Sri Lanka (Kanpur)    27 Nov,2009    Innings & 144 runs

* India became the sixth country to reach a milestone of 100 Test wins in their 432nd Test match.
Australia (332 in 713 Tests), England (310 in 891), South Africa (120 in 344), West Indies (152 in 459) and Pakistan (103 in 340) are the others.
* India’s Test record at home: Played: 221, won: 67, lost: 48, tied: 1, drawn: 104; Away: Played: 211, won: 33, lost: 88, drawn: 91.
* The victory in Kanpur by an innings and 144 runs is India’s biggest margin of win against the Lankans and third biggest over-all. 
* The other two big wins were by an innings and 239 runs against Bangla at Mirpur in May 2007 and by innings and 219 runs against Australia at Kolkata in March 1998.
* The innings victory is India’s 26th and seventh against the Lankans. 
* India also inflicted innings victories over Australia (3), Bangla (3), England (4), N Zealand (2), Pakistan (3), Windies (1) and Zimbabwe (3).
* The 9th wicket stand of 73 runs between Samaraweera and Mendis is a Lankan record against India. The previous best was 60 runs between Tillakeratne and Madurasinghe at Chennai in Sept 1982.

KR Gururaja Rao