Back in the summer of 2018, I wrote a piece questioning exactly what Australian fans were making of Virat Kohli, as he aggressively led his team to a series win on foreign soil.
For India, that series was historical.
After decades of handling themselves very well in the subcontinent, the batting genius that is Kohli brought a talented group to Australia with an absolute determination to win and more importantly, an intent to play the aggressor and bully the bully.
Kohli ran from the cordon like a man possessed when Australian wickets fell, he verballed every Australian that deserved it and was backed by a team that was not to be denied. The 2-1 series win was to be backed up with the exact same end of series result just two seasons later and firmly established a pattern of Indian dominance that began in 2016/17 and looks likely to continue on the current Australian tour.
Frankly, I loved seeing Kohli attack a group of men who had done the same to others for an extended period. Kohli was completely sick of being an honourable second, much like Australian captain Allan Border on the 1989 Ashes tour of England, the line simply had to be drawn in the sand. The past had to be remembered, used as a motivator and then forgotten.
Something tells me the Indian cricket team still draws on some of those experiences across the last decade and love the allegations of pitch and ball tampering that pop up, knowing that they finally have the mental edge over the Aussies.
No longer the captain, Kohli is still there and threatening to do something memorable in India at some stage during the current series.
In 2016/17, Kohli never really got going on home soil, in Australia during the 2018/19 campaign, he somewhat did, averaging over 40 and whilst his performances in 2020/21 were restricted to just the one Test, the men around him had been steeled to carry out the job that he had started years earlier.
Rohit Sharma is one of those men.
(Photo by Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images)
The captain’s 120 in the Indian first innings was a masterclass and the only century made in the match. Sharma is the embodiment of the new breed of Indian cricketers, those no longer scarred by extended periods of chirp and defeat at the hands of Australian teams.
He represents the new India, one explained clearly by respected commentator Harsha Bhogle, who outlined the change in Indian thinking to Robert Craddock in his Cricket Legends series which regularly airs on Fox Sports.
Bhogle spoke of the powerful Indian economy, the growing refusal to be seen as anything less than equal and a flourishing confidence in all walks of life that lay behind the Indian cricket team moving from the nice bunch of chaps they were in the 1970’s and 80’s, to the team of ruthless winners that we see before us today.
Sourav Ganguly and others played key roles at the beginning of that transition, Kohli continued it and Sharma looks a strong leader ready to keep the Indian foot on the throat of the Aussies.
With Ravindra Jedeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami and Kohli by his side, there seems little hope for an Australian cricket team that was utterly awful in the first Test of the current series, outside of debutant Todd Murphy.
And you know what? For someone who has been critical of the threatening of batsmen’s limbs, the demands to opponents to ‘speak English’ on a cricket field, other acts of petulance that don’t sit well with the Australian psyche, the blatant cheating and subsequent inability of some to accept responsibility and move on, as well as a general culture of intimidation that escalates as soon as the Australians are challenged on the field, it is actually fun to see them getting their bums smacked by India.
It is Sharma’s men’s time in the sun and as they unceremoniously direct fallen batters to the pavilion, it almost seems that there is half of century of loss fuelling their passion to do so. As a fan, I find it enjoyable.
In recent times, the Australian cricket team has been one of which it has been difficult to be proud. In fact, I’m quite proud of India.
It is nice to see them dishing it up to the Australians after taking it for so long.
Geo
Roar Rookie
You guys annihilate us and can’t stop yourselves from whining about Kohli losing a 50/50 decision.
Geo
Roar Rookie
If they just stood shoulder to shoulder and one million people deep, it would surely slow China down.
matth
Roar Guru
You seem to be a pleasant fellow
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Yes, two and later order at that
Trusty dusty
Guest
It must suck and be a body blow to see India's number 9 smack 86 and then get bowled out for 91 straight after lol Keep crying hehe
Trusty dusty
Guest
You are no ally of lovely mother India. You're a lapdog of degenerate yanks. India's on the rise, get used to getting your butt whipped in sports, economy, business and love making. Oh and your abos have Indian blood. Google it, bunch of Indian sailors infused the gene pool of Australia 4000 years ago. Keep kissing the queen lol
GP
Guest
Our Allies between China and us? What - if any - assistance would the Indian army be, if China invaded us?
Anyone watching England bat today? It's been boofball not bazz hall. Look like getting bowled out for 350-360. Wonder if NZ can put a good score on the board and then lets see this crazy batting from England when they are behind the game....but of course, that goes out the window if NZ dont bat well 1st innings
Geo
Roar Rookie
Unless they have found that Indians were with the First Nations people when the English landed in Sydney, we should go at them as hard as we can, no decency needed. After the game we can love them again be glad that they are our Allies and between China and us.
Titch
Guest
Having watched touring Indian teams for more than 50 years, in my mind there are 2 periods of Indian cricket: before Kapil Dev and after Kapil Dev. We knew after seeing him and who followed him this day would come. India were a sleeping giant who has now awoken... and good on 'em. Unfortunately for Kohli, his success has spurned many Aussie boys to dream of captaining the team in India.
DJM
Roar Rookie
On the Nagpur pitch - I can’t think of a single Aussie player who got out because of the conditions. Jadeja can spin the ball. So what? That’s what he’s paid millions of rupees to do. My problem with the current series so far is that one sided games are boring. It was fun watching Rohit bat - I think he is the world’s best batsman in Indian conditions. Other than that it was a yawnfest and I say that as a keen fan of test cricket for 60 years (yes, the first test I saw Richie Benaud was the Australian captain.)
GP
Guest
but In India they are preparing parts of the wicket one way and other parts another way. They were fair pitches. India had left handers too. Both teams were playing on the same pitch and the left handers in BOTH teams faced the same challenge. It would be an outrage if only one team was impacted.
GP
Guest
Yeah, agree on the not wanting to see either team get thrashed. I don't mind short tests though if it was due to player incompetence instead of a rubbish pitch. They don't all have to go for 5 days. Nagpur was fine, it's just Australia were awful.
GP
Guest
Who cares if the pitch was doctored? Home team prerogative. We should do it next time instead of preparing dismally dull tracks designed to maximise TV commercials over 5 days.
Bikash
Roar Rookie
When would you guys stop this 'cry baby' attitude? Stay in illusion and in your own created bubble of excuses and wait for a 0-4 hammering...good luck.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
No one minds a tough contest whether we win or lose. I've seen Aus in some poor results but In India they are preparing parts of the wicket one way and other parts another way. Had that happened here the sreams would be deafening. Nothing yet from the match referee on the wicket, nearly a week since the test finished. Funny that. And Jadega with his ointment? A slap on the wrist with a wet lettuce leaf.
Craig Gmeiner
Roar Rookie
Great piece of writing Stuart. You make you point well and I totally agree with you. Sporting groups should be judged on the legacy they leave behind as much as the success they enjoy in their time. I'm not sure the legacy left behind by the team of the last decade or so will be one many will be proud of. It is interesting to see them get a big of their own medicine.
Marty
Roar Rookie
Whatever you may think of the whole shoe on the other foot situation (can’t blame the Indians for giving it as good as they got), at the end of the day there’s nothing positive about one sided games of any sport. Personally I found this summer incredibly boring and depressing. There’s nothing to celebrate about flogging the pants off second rate opposition.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
The refusal to play the Adelaide D/N Test
jamesb
Roar Guru
No doubt Australia has had indiscretions in the past, but I dont think India is a team full of choir boys. Even in this test, Jadeja got fined for ointment on finger. And you look at BCCI, a few years ago, they refused India to participate in a day night test in Adelaide. So BCCI is changing scheduling conditions in another country. Also I wouldn't go as far as "enjoying India thrash Australia". Personally it feels wrong, to the point where you are better off not watching cricket and do something else with your life. It's a wild take there Stuart, which I wholeheartedly disagree.