EPIC CONTEST

The tale of a series that reached near-stratospheric standards

by Vishaal Loganathan • Published on

India's performances show that they, if not indeed are, are close to unbeatable at home. © BCCI

Recall the India-Australia series of 2001. Now imagine the same with Twitter also available, where every armchair critic has a voice that can be directed at anyone. The four-Test India-Australia series of 2017 will go down in history as one of the finest ever just for its cricket alone. But add to it the masala of controversies, verbal duels and media wars, the benchmark set reached near-stratospheric standards.

There's been enough said and written about the controversies, and not nearly enough about the cricket that was played.

Steve Smith's side had come into the contest without the slightest chance given to them. An unfair proposition given that they boasted of the best Test batsman in the world, and the most skillful fast bowler. And where New Zealand, England and Bangladesh faltered, Australia stood firm to show that they were here to compete, and not simply add to the numbers that claimed India were unbeatable at home.

"I think they had the belief of making things happen in these conditions, that's something that I sensed in their body language and the way they played their cricket," said Virat Kohli, the Indian captain. "They believed they could win sessions and win situations and that was the most important thing, and the most challenging thing for us. Whereas teams really lose their morale once they lose a Test match in India, but they kept bouncing back and they had the desire to compete throughout. That's why they are the number two side in the world.

"You expect that from Australia, once they get a sniff they put you under pressure. But the way we responded, I'm really proud of that as well. I would say their relentlessness and their desire to make things happen in these conditions was probably the reason why they kept giving us a great fight to the end of this Test match. So a lot of credit goes to them," Kohli assessed of what made the Australians their biggest challenge this home stretch.

India's performances show that they, if not indeed are, are close to unbeatable at home. There is always the chance of a blip, no matter how good a team is, but over the course of a few Tests, they are able to stamp their authority. Their ability to be behind the eight ball, and still come out on top, has stood out the most. At the end of a tiring home season, they relied heavily on that trait to beat an Australian team that was giving no inch.

India's series was far from what they have been used to in recent times. They have been challenged on the odd occasion, but have mostly overturned that with an emphatic show soon after. They may have lost a day or a session, but the immediate aftermath has been one that is so dominant that the opposition has no way back.

But against Australia, whatever India hit them with, they found an equal reaction. They copped blow and got an equal one in return on most occasions. India, being the masters at home, however, were more consistent with their blows, while the Australians gradually got weaker. That was perhaps the difference between the two sides. They were evenly matches almost throughout, but India just had that little bit extra during the key moments.

Steve Smith felt the same, too.

"We have fought very hard throughout this series and to fall over at the final hurdle hurts and the boys in the room are hurting. We have played a good style of cricket over here, we have competed in every Test match and for that I am really proud of the boys," he said.

"We can take a lot out of the way we played, the plans we had and the way we've done it. But we just needed to do it a little bit longer at times and be a bit more consistent. We've certainly had our opportunities to win the games of cricket and we haven't taken those opportunities against a quality opposition like India. They will get back in the game and make you pay, from that aspect it's disappointing we haven't been able to take advantage when we have been in front. Having said that I am really proud of the boys for the way we have competed this series."

India's loss in Pune was a hammerblow. The side was flying high after yet another thumping display at home, having just beaten Bangladesh in a historic Test, and came into the series with their goals set on another emphatic display. Australia already looked resigned to defeat.

The match turned out to be a complete contrast. Australia stuck to their plans, while India's came unstuck. They were bowled out for under 110 in both innings as the visitors romped home to an unexpected, but deserving, triumph. India had been used to seeing their opposition fall flat after such a defeat, but the hallmark of Virat Kohli's side was that they refused to bow down.

In Bengaluru, India found themselves under lots of pressure. With chances of a series win slipping away, India worked up the energy to put in a performance of stunning intensity. Their pacers fought hard, and the spinners importuned every delivery. At the end, they came out trumps in a game that was one of the best in recent times.

This time Australia struck back hard. They put on 451 in Ranchi and reduced India to 328 for 6 in return. India ended with a massive 603 eventually. With the pitch not offering the bowlers much, both teams put their heart into trying to get their team to win. The end result was a draw, with Australia holding on on the final day through a determined display.

In Dharamsala, the match looked set to sway either way at the end of Day 2. Both teams were neck and neck, and at the most opportune time, India upped their game to take a commanding position. A little over a day later, India had their hands on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Australia may have lost, but they certainly made everyone who'd brushed them off look like fools. India themselves were taken aback by the intensity of Australia's displays - their pacers made life hell, their spinners were effective and the batsman executed their plans very well.

In the end, the result seems to be the right one. India were, just by enough, the better side over the course of the four Tests, but Australia were in no way far behind. It ended with India winning 2-1, but it might have well been the reverse if Australia had taken the important moments.

On the whole, it was the kind of cricket that fans would have loved to watch. Before the start of the season, Anil Kumble had said he hoped that the team would play the kind of cricket that the fans would throng the stadium to be a part of. An India-Australia series usually brings out the best in everyone because there is so much at stake.

The series was a fair testimony to both.

© Cricbuzz

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