There couldn't have been a better finish to such a wonderful Test in Kolkata. It had all the ingredients that a Test should ideally have. The game going on to 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 Yousuf Youhana and Younis Khan on the second day.
The real match-winning partnership between Rahul Dravid and Dinesh Karthik on the fourth day, followed by Afridi's late evening assault livened up the proceedings and kept everyone on tenterhooks. On the final day, it was the marvelous effort from 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.
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The fast bowlers had a definitive role to play in both the Tests so far. 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 Indian cricket.
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 fifties he scored in both the innings. Considering the poor form of skipper Ganguly and Laxman, his partnerships with Rahul on both the occasions were very crucial.
In the second innings, sadly though, Bucknor's ageing finger delayed his world record.
The 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 through his perfect off the field behavior. Rahul, as a cricketer, is ever growing in stature.
Dinesh Karthik did justify the faith of the selectors in him with a splendid knock. The wicketkeeper's aggressive partnership with Dravid did save the Indians 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, Karthik'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 wicketkeeper who can also bat well. On many occasions, a wicket-keeper-batsman bails out the team during crisis.
Considering the fact that the present Pakistan team is a rather inexperienced side, both in batting and bowling, I would say that they have done well in both the Tests so far. Their batsmen, of course, have done better than the bowlers, who have been found struggling at times.
Mohammed Sami, the fastest bowler around, has failed to impress so far. Danish Kaneria can only be effective if he receives better support from the other end. But, then, it is also unfair to expect an inexperienced lot to win matches so quickly.