This was India at its best. There was a well-defined strategy from the start of the series to the end of it. However, when there were a few risky moments for the Indians, they seemed to be prepared for it.
The whole cricketing world knows that India has changed the path of Australian cricket with the 2-0 win in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test Series. As the Indians are being applauded, the Aussies are angry at Ponting.
While Ponting admits that there was lack of proper strategy, the SMH reports that people might want him replaced. Still, out of the total 44 Test matches he has captained in, he has bagged 32 wins.
The whole series looks like an undercover strategy.
When Vengsarkar suddenly brought in Sourav Ganguly just a few days before the first Test match, the Australians did not have a slightest clue about what this meant. At Mohali, when the Indian bowlers showed the true colour of the spin bowling, the Aussies could not stay at the crease for long.
The third Test was not as interesting, but it was said that the Australians practiced very hard beforehand. Their spin bowlers tried to imitate the Indian spinners, only the team just saved themselves from another defeat.
The real surprise came when Kumble announced his retirement and Dhoni replaced him as skipper. This was a very big risk at a time when the series was dangling at 1-0.
Whatever happened, it looked like something that was pre-planned. The strategies – both bowling and batting – under the captaincy of Dhoni was superb. Nobody guessed that this was a first time captain leading the side. He seemed more than professional. And he had the support of all the seniors.
As a BBC sports analyst said, “This was the first time in many years that India showed consistency in its approach towards the series. Normally what happens is that after winning the first or second match in a series, they tend to become relaxed. This series showed that India can be the number one team in the world if it follows the same consistency in all the future matches.”
Let us hope India heeds his advice.
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