Team India shows Australia (and Virat Kohli critics) who's boss
It took just a few sessions on the field inside the veritable cauldron that the Chinnaswamy Stadium was in Bangalore to change the perception about Virat Kohli's Team India.
Down and out in the series against Australia, the hosts bounced back with vengeance on Monday and Tuesday to crush Australia in the second Test. The epitaph had been written for India too early, on social media and even inside the TV commentary booths!
Yet, the way Kohli's side hit back on Tuesday was proof that this World No.1 Test side still has plenty of spunk. It would be tempting to lavish praise on R Ashwin for his six-wicket haul which knocked out the Aussies.
Viewed objectively and dispassionately, it was not just one Ashwin who fashioned the win. First, it was Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane's batting in the second innings backed by an effective stand towards the end between Wriddhiman Saha and batting bunny Ishant Sharma which enabled India to score 274 in the second innings.
A target below 200 was not a big one for the Aussies to chase. India had just four bowlers in their ranks, a gamble which Kohli had taken. But then, on a crumbling wicket where it looked so easy from beyond the boundary, bowling was not easy.
There was turn. And there was bounce of unpredictable nature. The ball would shoot through one moment so low and the next delivery you had high bounce. If Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma bowled well and stuck to the basics, the way Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja attacked with spin on Tuesday was mesmerising.
One really did not need to turn the ball too much. To the contrary, it was Ashwin's top spin which was more effective as plenty of traditional spin meant the ball was going to pitch and turn wide.
Perhaps Ashwin had seen Nathan Lyon do the same in the first innings when he bowled with near zero side spin and kept producing more top spin to generate bounce.
The crowds inside the stadium loved the moments. In between, the Aussie batsmen, who thought they had become masters of playing spin, tried to hustle the Indian bowlers. The attempt was charge down the track or try and spoil the length of the bowlers - pace and spin.
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| Wriddhiman Saha takes a difficult catch in the fourth day's game. Photo: AP |
It did not work as Kohli, fired up, aggressive and making smart bowling changes, dealt crucial blows. Once skipper Steve Smith departed, and almost looked beseechingly towards the dressing room for a DRS, you knew the Aussies were on the mat.
Yet, one had to wait for Ashwin, full of guile and wile to deliver one punch after the other to smother the Aussies. Twitter wars had erupted from India to Australia to set the series alive for the Border-Gavaskar trophy.
And for those who feel Test cricket is boring, Bangalore provided thrills and spills. The series is tied at 1-1 and for a change no one minded prime time television being dominated by cricket and not the last phase of state Assembly elections.
The series is wide open and the momentum has swung towards India. The team had faced enough criticism and the resurgence, so to say, is welcome. From Bangalore to Ranchi, the venue for the third Test, there is a sudden new halo about Team India.
There is no lampooning the curators. Hopefully, we will see more close action on better wickets. If it needed a team effort to win a Test match, Bangalore defined it.
Mind you, Virat Kohli hasn't even started scoring runs in this series. As yet.