By Dilip Vengsarkar
Mohali Test – an all time great – provided for the greatest endorsement for the real and longest version of the sport. It is battles like these that also provide for the biggest test of characters. The romance and suspense such contests produce make the followers of the game get enchanted. Since India and Australia belong to the top rung, the intensity of the Test also had that sparkle of a knife’s edge. What a match!

The comeback made by India was just incredible. Down in the dumps at 124 for 8 and needing 216 to win it was a near-impossible ask but Ishant Sharma showed great responsibility as he rallied around the saviour of all times, the Very Very Special (VVS) Laxman, to share that magic 81-run partnership. The Hyderabadi was simply brilliant. As far as Ishant the batsman is concerned, I am sure he will henceforth be more confident with the willow.

The tone for the exciting finish was actually set when Ishant spelt doom for the Australian top order picking three wickets on the penultimate day. Zaheer Khan was a picture of his supreme self at the other end and that’s what made the Aussie cookie crumble.

What Test cricket means to a true player was shown when Laxman overcame pain fighting with deep passion. Australians’ nemesis, Laxman has now made it a habit to guide India to famous wins out of nowhere.

At Mohali, what was more significant was that the stylish batsman not just had to save his and the non-striker’s wicket but had to score runs as well to put pressure on the Aussies. Only a champion can manage that and India has once again proved that they are rightfully the No. 1 in Tests. They could do it as they had the belief. India should now go the whole hog to win the Bangalore match as well. Unfortunately, Ishant won’t be there but I am glad young Jaidev Unadkat is picked by the selectors as he has shown that he has it in him to succeed at the highest level.

For India to consistently remain on top, there is need for a great feeder system, and to watch a Dhawal Kulkarni take a five-for on a dead track in the Irani Cup at Jaipur was a big relief. Though he sadly missed out on selection, he showed that he possesses a big heart. These are the same boys who will be playing for India some day and we definitely need better pitches to raise our domestic standard.

I have always appreciated the brand of cricket the Aussies play and one cannot take them for granted, but I still feel it will be a difficult task for them to get back at Bangalore. To do so, they will need their seniors the most and with Doug Bollinger probably ruled out; their bowling will be weakened as well.