After that loss to England, most of us did not know what to expect from the India team against Australia. We knew that Australia were not going to be as good as England, looking at the weak spinning element. But the Australia batting is something that none of us accounted for. As it turned out, Australia batted like England used to on turning pitches in the past, and hence a 4-0 result was something that many had started to predict after two Tests.
Australia will go home and start sorting out their problems. In the meanwhile, India can just forget everything and rejoice this moment. Cynics might say these were home conditions and Australia were really not Australia. But to win 4-0 is a great performance. Especially, when every win, barring Chennai, was scripted by the young guns of Indian cricket.
What Indian cricket and the selectors can be happy about is that the players who had a good run did not make token contributions but major ones, and that really is the obligation that in-form players carry in a team game.
That is where you need to take your hats off to Vijay, Pujara, Ashwin, Jadeja so also Dhawan, albeit for just one Test.
Among others, Jadeja has been a revelation and credit is due here to Dhoni, who first saw the value in Jadeja as a player and has now even proved to us that he can be a handy Test player too.
{{/usCountry}}Among others, Jadeja has been a revelation and credit is due here to Dhoni, who first saw the value in Jadeja as a player and has now even proved to us that he can be a handy Test player too.
{{/usCountry}}The next time India have to play one left-arm spinner, whatever the surface, Jadeja could be the first choice. That he bats too is just perfect, especially overseas.
So, there you are, a long home season ends on a great note. Overseas cricket will bring different challenges but that's sometime in the future. For now, India can enjoy their success, success well deserved.
The writer is a former India batsman
PMG