Sessions that saw India reach its Zenith

Having been a fan of Indian cricket team for more than fifteen years, I had to face quite a few disappointments; but then the boys in Blue also delivered Magic often, that forced me too keep my loyalty unwavering. The T20 World cup win in 2007, Dream run to world cup finals in 2003, Sachin’s amazing run in Sharjah, some wonderful chases (against Pakistan in Dhaka and England in Lords) have all made me cheerful.

But then like any other true cricket fan, I love Test cricket more than any other form. Hence now as India sits comfortably on the Top of the table, this is one of my most treasured moments. Great wars are won or lost on some crucial battles. Similarly test matches as most of you would agree, were won or lost on one or two crucial sessions.

So here is the compilation of some of the most amazing sessions of play that propelled India to this zenith.

PS: a) For its ranking ICC has considered only matches from August 2006. So I have also considered only those matches.
b) The sessions are not rated from 1 to 10. They are just sorted based on past to present.

Sree swings it India’s way at Wanderers.

Vs South Africa @ Wanderers, Day 2 Post Lunch Session



Indian batsmen have often failed the acid test in fast seaming pitches abroad. So I was bewildered when an Indian pace men dished out the same treatment to the opposition. Before this series, South African coach wanted fast bouncy pitches to test Indian batsman. However it was the Home team that danced to the tunes of the Kerela Fast bowler who loves break dance. This session saw Sreesanth take a five wicket haul and also dismiss South Africa for their lowest total (84) since their readmission into International Cricket. The session also set up first Test victory for India on the soils where Gandhi began his struggle.

Zaheer shows his class in England:

Vs England @ Trent Bridge, Day 4 Post Tea Session

After surviving the first match of the series with a draw, thanks to Dhoni and rain, India took a mammoth 283 run lead in the first innings of the second test. However by Tea on the fourth day, England erased much of the deficit (221) for the loss of just three wickets. Even Post tea session began to go England’s way, as they erased the deficit without losing any more wickets. It was then with second new ball in hand, Zaheer paid back for the Jelly Beans Joke England played on him when he was batting. In one over, he removed English Skipper and centurion Vaughan and Bell, to complete his five wicket haul. Kumble polished of the tail as usual, and by the end of the day Indian openers even began to bat chasing the modest target, that eventually gave them a win over their former colonial rulers on their 200th test match abroad.

Rookie Pacer troubles Ponting:

Vs Australia @ Perth, Day 4 Morning Session


Just one Australian wicket fell in this session. But then no sane Indian cricket fan would forget this session. It was in this session, Ricky Ponting; one of the best test batsmen in the World was all at sea facing a rookie Indian Pace Bowler at perth, known for its pace and bounce. There were edges, Close LBW shouts, near misses and what not. We have to give credit to Pointing as very few batsmen would have survived such carnage of spell for so long. Ishant was getting tired and Kumble was about to take him of the attack, when Shewag, Ishant’s Ranji team mate, asked him to bowl one more over. “haan, main karoonga” (Yes, I will bowl one) said Ishant, and Pointing edged the very first ball of the over to Dravid’s safe hands at slips, and walked back to pavilion having been sorted out by a youngster twice in the same match. Such was the impact of the spell, that it not only gave India a famous victory after Sydney episode, but has also made it difficult for selectors to drop Ishant, even when he is not delivering the goods.



Sehwag cracks Mendis mystery and Murali magic:

Vs Srilanka @ Galle, Day 1 Morning Session

In the first test of the series India scored only 223 and 138. Mystery man Mendis making his debut picked up 8wickets, while magical off spinner Murali accounted for 11 Indian men. Every one was wondering how the Indians were going to tackle the spin combo in the rest of the series. Sehwag showed them how, by adding 151 runs in the first session of the Day1 along with his friend Gambhir. In Mendis second over of the match, Shewag hit a huge six and then picked up a two fingered googly easily and cut it past point for four later in the same over. Murali bowled a Doosra on his very fast ball and Sehwag crashed it to deep point boundary to reach his fifty. He would continue to show how to handle the spinners and reach 200, but none of the Indian batsman will learn the lesson, as Mendis would once more pick six wickets. However, Sehwag’s knock did help India level series.


Defensive tactics or Great Cricketing Acumen???

Vs Australia @ Nagpur Day 3, Morning Session

Only 42 runs were scored in the session in 24 overs bowled. Only one wicket fell. Passage of plays like this separate test match fans from T20 fans. Any one can enjoy Shewag murdering Murali and Mendis; but only true cricket fans can enjoy the session that saw Indians bowl wide outside off stump with packed offside field. India lead the series 1 nil, and hence they just needed a draw to win the series. Though Indians scored 441 in the first Innings, Aussies had raced off to 189/2 at the end of second day’s play. Indians were guilty of bowling too many boundary balls, and wanted to some how dry up the runs. It was then Dhoni came up with this plan on the Third day morning. You may call it Master piece thinking or a defensive ploy that kills Test cricket, but the fact of the matter is the session helped India seize the momentum and dismiss Australia by the end of the day’s play and get a healthy lead. India went on to win the match and the Border Gavaskar trophy, and this tortoise like session did help India to turn the tables against the then World Number one side.


Sehwag delivers Knock out Punch:

Vs England @ Chennai Day 4, Post Tea session

In this test series that happened just after Mumbai blast, England won each session till Tea of the fourth day. Just after tea, as they declared setting India a massive target of 387, every one thought only two results were possible – draw or an England victory. History points out how difficult it is to chase huge total on the fourth innings in subcontinent pitches with its wear and tear and hence Indian victory was ruled out. But then there was one guy in Indian dressing room that cares little for History. He lives in the present. He sees the ball and hits it, and keeps it simple as that. In just 68 balls, Sehwag with 11 fours and 4 sixes scored 84 runs had delivered the Knock out punch: he made India believe that they can challenge any total. The next day Sachin would go on to score a memorable century and help India set history. Just like after Kolkatta test, every team though ten times before enforcing follow on against India, after this match, they will think long before declaring with this maverick opening Indian innings.



It’s Pay back time Kiwis:

Vs Newzland @ Hamilton, Day 1 Morning session

Last time India toured this tiny island, they played in a pitch that was hell for the batsman. The entire Indian batsman struggled, and Indians lost the series easily. However by the first session of this tour, every one was clear which team batsman are going to struggle this time around. By the team Indians went for lunch (back home, Indian fans awoke from their sleeps), six of the Kiwis were back in the den for just 66 on board. Indian pace trio of Zaheer, Ishant and Munaf were just too hot to handle for Kiwis. Though Ryder and Vettori would score centuries to rescue Kiwis, the early damage was enough to help India win the match by ten wickets.




It’s time to save:

Vs Newzland @ Napier, Day 4 Morning session

Champion sides not only win matches, but they also save matches from hopeless situations. Champion batsmen not only thrash the bowlers on their day, but also fight for survival, curbing the natural instincts when pushed to the wall. Asked to follow on, and having lost their skipper Shewag to a reckless shot, India were tottering at 47 for 1 in their second innings. New Morning; charged up Kiwi bowlers to level the series; India just needed to crack a bit and Kiwis would have swallowed them. However Indians refused to give in. Gambhir, the new Indian Messiah and the old wall Dravid, blocked every thing thrown at them. At the end of the session, the score card still read for 1, and Indians knew they have won the session. The session that turned out to be the stepping stone, for one of the famous Indian draws in recent times.


India reaches the Zenith:

Vs Srilanka @ Mumbai, Day 5, Morning session

Just 4 wickets and amazing Sangakkara batting on 133 stood between India and their Number one ranking. However I remembered the proverb “Many a slip between cup and the lip” and posted “I am keeping my fingers crossed till the last wicket falls, because Indian team keeps finding ways to disappoint me” on the Face book. However very first over of the day saw Sangakkara edge one behind to Dhoni, and it was only a matter of time before India reached the Numero One position. We were delighted; however the fact that South Africa could over take India soon, saddened us a bit.


Eden Post tea Magic mystifies South Africans too:

Vs South Africa @ Eden Gardens, Day 1 Post Tea session

After the convincing Innings win in the first test, South Africans needed just a draw to get back the Number one position from India. Toss helped them, and by tea they had raced to 228 for the loss of just two wickets. Amla and Kallis, the first test Heroes were still at the crease. Every one thought South Africa would just bat India out of the Match and the number one position. However when Bad light stopped play couple of hours later, it was the last wicket pair of South Africa that was at crease. In those in between overs, Harbhajan along with Eden Garden crowd had spun a magic web against South African batsman. Suddenly the Indian attack that looked a meek cat turned into a ferocious tiger. There’s some mystic force in Eden Gardens that acts on visiting teams after the Tea. It was this session that helped India drew the series and Keep their Number one Position. If not for this session, I would not have written this article.