It was left to the cricketers to give that final glitter to all the sporting achievements that India recorded in 2021. Its debatable if Indian Test cricket has ever seen as many highs as it did in the year that went by. If winning a series in Australia was a delight then proof of the Indian abilities again bloomed in England in the away series and then in India. Thereafter New Zealand became the next victim in the home series in early December in what seemed India's relentless pursuit of success. And now at the fag end of the year the series in South Africa has started on a bright note with India winning the first Test in Centurion and the record book has it that this was the first time an Asian country had broken the fortress in Centurion. So plaudits in various hue had kept courting the Indian cricketers during the year and it would their look out to pocket the Test series comprehensively and give Indian cricket the kind of boost in the New Year even as it pursues the coveted title of a World Champion in due course.
In fact if there had been a hiccup here or there in the success run, then it has to be the fall to New Zealand in the inaugural World Test Championship final held in Southampton in England in June last year not to forget the unexpected early exit in the T20 World Cup held in the UAE thereafter in October. The loss to Pakistan in the latter event in the Gulf and then the tumble thereafter looked a horrendous moment that thankfully did not last long. As things panned out, the proceedings thereafter in particular the longer format of Test cricket, Kohli's men could present their best.
What is more, today the Indian team is considered the most balanced side with a sound reliable batting line up and a more than capable pace-bowling pack in Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj. Add to that the wiles of spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and the Indian arsenal is complete. Nothing best reflected this truth than the latest performance at the Centurion. Hopefully this would inspire more gains as the tour proceeds in the New Year.
