The ebb and flow of Test cricket got condensed in a day's play in such an extraordinary manner that one was not sure who felt more drained at the end of it - the players or the spectators. There was a bit of everything in it: drama, tension, good stroke-play, bad batting, dropped catches, fighting cricket, a world record and swinging fortunes.
But more than anything else, more than Virender Sehwag's century, what helped India see the day through and take a first innings lead, was the help they got from the Australian fielders.
There is no doubt that God was an Indian today. Otherwise, how on earth does a team like Australians drop half a dozen catches? And how can one explain the fact that the batsmen hit the ball in the air more than dozen times but it never found a fielder?
Whatever the reasons, at the end of the second day's play, India had managed to nose ahead of the Australians and would hope that the 56-run lead becomes a substantial one on Saturday so that they don't have to bat last under the pressure of chasing a big score.