There couldn't have been a better finish to such a wonderful Test match. It had all the ingredients that a Test should ideally have.
Any game going into the last session of the last day is always an exciting prospect in a five-dayer. India had an upper hand on the opening day, but it was negated by some inspired batting from Youhana and Younis Khan on the second day.
The real match-winning partnership between Rahul Dravid and Dinesh Kaarthick on the fourth day, followed by Afridi's late evening assault livened up proceedings and kept everyone on tenterhooks. On the final day, it was the marvellous effort from the vintage Anil Kumble that decided the match in favour of India. Though the match swung both ways, this Test match mainly belonged to two Karnataka players -- Anil and Rahul Dravid. The best part of the series so far is that it is not played on dry and dusty square turners. In fact, the wickets this time appear greener than ever before. Both Mohali and Kolkata wickets managed to extract best cricket from both teams.
The fast bowlers had definitive roles in both Tests. The toss, which used to be so crucial in deciding the fate of Tests once, doesn't seem to be all-important any more. Our spinners have also performed extremely well, thus sending a signal that spin bowling in India is not just about bowling on dry wickets. Anil and Harbhajan had to use all they had in them to win the match. I hope the same healthy trend continues. In the midst of the tall milestone that Sachin is expected to reach any day, people have somehow failed to evaluate the importance of the 50s he scored in both the innings. Considering the poor form of skipper Ganguly and Laxman, his partnerships with Rahul on both occasions were very crucial. In the second innings, sadly, Bucknor's ageing finger delayed his world record.
Indian wall Rahul Dravid once again held the batting together in both the innings. The white uniform, it seems, awakens high discipline and devotion in his batting. Rahul's consistency comes from strong fundamentals combined with tough temperament. He always tells the true story either through his deeds on the field or off the field behaviour. He as a cricketer is growing in stature.
{{/usCountry}}Indian wall Rahul Dravid once again held the batting together in both the innings. The white uniform, it seems, awakens high discipline and devotion in his batting. Rahul's consistency comes from strong fundamentals combined with tough temperament. He always tells the true story either through his deeds on the field or off the field behaviour. He as a cricketer is growing in stature.
{{/usCountry}}Kaarthick did justify the selectors' faith in him with a splendid knock. The wicket-keeper's aggressive partnership with Dravid saved the Indians from a near-embarrassment. His crafty and equally daring innings took the game away from the tourists. While Kamran's innings saved the game for the Pakistanis in Mohali, Kaarthick's innings did one better by winning the match for India. This knock of his, I hope, will solve the long-standing Indian problem of finding a reliable wicket-keeper who can also bat well.