This is going to be only about India and the victory at the Gabba. There are certain things in life which light up your mood, bring a smile to your face, give you a sense of joy which is not epicurean. One feels like living that moment for a long time, although it does not concern you directly; It is not about your personal fame or fortune. Yet it gives you something, adds more value to your life, enriches your experience as a follower, a spectator and eventually goes down into personal lore and collective folklore. Today Sport was a winner, Cricket was the winner and India’s young , resolute, resilient ( I feel cliché ridden already since these words fit them to the T) team made this happen.
They say Cricket is a great leveller like all Sport; The invincible Aussie fortress at the Gabba had to be stormed not just taken and India did it in style with several strategies on work at the same time; the elegance of Shubman Gill , the doughtiness of Pujara and the flamboyance of Risabh Pant. Earlier it was Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Siraj and Natarajan who did it with the bat and ball. It was Young India on the march. Cricket is a team sport . Individual performances matter only if they can help the team. The four test match series between India and Australia which will go down in history as one of the greatest ever had this in abundance. I doubt if the Australian bowling attack which is currently the best in the world ( Pat Cummins is the world’s number 1 ranked bowler) had been met with such counter attacking play in recent times. Fourth innings chases have mostly been about crumbling and fall of wickets in heaps. But when you have a different story to tell you script your own plot. This generation of Indian cricketers are not afraid and will play to win. Two seasoned campaigners, Hanuma Vihari and Ashwin took India to a draw in Sydney. At the Gabba with the rain being away, they did it in style , in confidence and in joy. This will be remembered for a long time for what it means to Cricket loving Indian fans, to Cricket as a Sport, about the joy it can bring albeit you are battling several little nasty things around you. Big thanks to Ajinkya Rahane and team India.