Yes, as the more perceptive of you might have realised, the title refers to the recently concluded Test match between India and Australia. It was a historic win for India in more ways than one, but the stand-out factor, no doubt, was another scintillating performance from VVS Laxman under immense pressure. Usually the first person to get axed even with the slightest doubt over fitness or form, VVS has proven time and again why he deserves a spot in the middle order of a batting-heavy lineup.
Statistics would just say that he scored 73 off 79 deliveries and would just be one more among the 46 fifties through his career. They do not take into account the fact that he is nearing 36 years of age. Nowhere in his numbers will it be mentioned that he batted through with a sore back. And it will soon be forgotten that he has saved us on two consecutive occasions - today and the third Test against Sri Lanka barely a month or two ago. But such is the spirit of a man who has by and large been sidelined by a more stellar and star-studded batting lineup throughout his career.
There is something to his batting that is so aesthetically pleasing to the eye. It is a real delight to watch a free-flowing Laxman innings. His innings are never about his scores, but about the way he scores. When he does retire, the world will surely miss those ravishing drives and stunning flicks. His presence at the crease, even in dire situations, brings about a calm serenity in the midst of a fiery tempest. His teammates would definitely concur.
Another unsung hero of the Test match was Ishant Sharma. This tall, lanky fast bowler from the suburbs of Delhi has yet again proved that grit and determination go a long way in swinging the fortunes of a team. Ruled out of the first innings with a knee injury following a bad spell of bowling, he did brilliantly to come back in the second and literally bowl India within striking distance of the game. Not only did he account for three important Australian batsmen, he also came out to bat with 92 runs required and just a couple of wickets left.
He batted with exemplary patience to compile 31 important runs. More importantly, when he departed, falling to a wrong decision, he had left India needing only 11 runs. What followed was a tense finish which could have gone either way. A little bit of luck and a slightly misdirected throw made sure the valiant efforts of Laxman and Ishant would not go in vain.
At the end of the day, sheer determination and a greater hunger for victory is what set the two teams apart. After the last ball of the Test, even a staunch stoic could not have held back his emotions. Yes, one may ask why I singled out only the performances of these two even though everyone did contribute to the victory. I did so because a lesser performance from either of these two would not have led me to write this post in the first place. Ironically, neither of them was awarded the Man-of-the-Match.
On a completely unrelated note, Happy birthday GShah! :)
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