A well-deserved triumph

In convincingly beating England 3-0 with the last Test yet to be played, Virat Kohli’s Team India has confirmed its undeniable status as the world’s top Test squad. After losing the last three series to England, including one at home, and with England taking off well in the first Test, India faced a strong challenge. The young skipper pulled his team up from there, and dominated the series with two big innings to assert India’s supremacy. Kohli and Ravi Ashwin’s consistent performances made the final result possible, along with the batting of Murali Vijay and Cheteswar Pujara. Kohli was, however, right to say teamwork was the key, as his boys fought back each time it was tested by the opposition’s good performances. A fifth successive series win, including in Sri Lanka and the West Indies, marks Kohli as a clear leader of men, that also again raises the question of a fuller role for him.

Accustomed to making excuses in India from Delhi Belly down to mineral water quality, this Team England led by Alastair Cook was an exception as a worthy fighter, but not equal to consistently outplaying India. The sum of their batting and spin bowling was not good enough to test India, with its long batting lineup, bolstered by three bowling all-rounders and spin bowling strengths. The pitches weren’t deliberately underprepared as in the past and all bowlers had an opportunity. The challenge ahead is to sustain this home season momentum while touring abroad, specially in countries with far tougher conditions like Australia, South Africa and England.