Anniversary of India's historic win over England at the Lord's

Anniversary of India’s historic win over England at the Lord’s: Indian Cricket was at it’s all time low in the alien foreign conditions and the Indian team which roared like tigers under the daring Captaincy of Sourav Ganguly was once again on the path of overseas drubbing which has been the story of Indian cricket for decades. The team which was Lion at home always turned sheepish they got exposed to foreign conditions.

As India headed to the all important Second test match at the Lord’s, they had not tasted a win for the last three years as they were win-less in the last 15 overseas test matches. It was palling the colours of dampness and dusk all over again in hearts of millions of cricket crazy fans here back in India. And things got even worse as there was a physical spat between Ravindra Jadeja and James Anderson in the first test at Trent Bridge which had paved way for much of stress and tension among the players of both the nation. The Indian captain MS Dhoni was under severe scrutiny of criticism for his continued failures as a captain and player as he couldn’t transform the dampened spirits of the team with dynamism and self-belief while his selections were under scanner from all the quarters.

When the match commenced on the Mecca of cricket – Lord’s; it became a subtle composition for the fans and spectators to find a difference between the pitch and the outfield as both were lush green. Many cricket pundits proclaimed it as the greenest pitch they had ever see in their cricket journey. When Indians came out to bat the ball was swinging so vividly as if the bowlers had the possession of some magical wand in their hand with which they were making the Indian batters dance on the field. But, then came a man on the same 22 yards called Ajinkya Madhukar Rahane who was seemed like a man on a mission to win the world with his implausible display of gallant batsmanship and matchless class which in the years to come by, would be epitomized as the birth of one of the young masters of the game in the alien overseas conditions.

He inscribed his name in golden letters on the Lord’s honors board with an innings of exemplary magnificence to take past India’s punctured batting score of 145-7 to 300 which whispered tides of something magical in the bag on the Lord’s cricket ground.

When English batsmen came out to bat, the second day pitch, was now not as much intimidating and menacing as it was on the opening day of the test. But, yet there was enough for the new swinging sensation of the world: Bhubneshwar Kumar whose prodigal swinging enigmas restricted English lead to only 24 runs in the first innings.

Now, the Indian batsmen were in a dire hard situation where it was like a do or die situation for them. Then, another hero rose to lift the hopes of the Indian cricket- Murali Vijay whose unbreakable bond with concentration and love for long vigils on the crease landed India in some respite. But, still the fulfillment of bigger cause seemed difficult. Finally, the man with 2 triple centuries in domestic cricket and widely tagged as Sir Ravindra Jadeja arrived on the crease after being in the spotlight for his dismal performances as well as spat with Jimmy Anderson.

But, this time Jadeja was in no mood to let things drift away for the love of his country as for him and the team it was not any bloody joke. Then he played the innings of his life when he launched severe attack on English spearhead Anderson and others in a bid to create history. His 57 ball 68 run knock had landed his team into a situation where the tides were whispering magic in India’s favor.

Now, the onus was on the bowlers not only to rise to glory in the match but to revive the cult of hope and belief among their fans that the legacy of fighting endeavor in Indian cricket was still prevailing. It meant more than just a match. After 28 years, the home of cricket was ready to open its shoulders and take this Indian team into its arms like it had after 1983 World Cup win. But, it was around lunch time on fifth day of the test when England was on 173-4 and with the passing time the chances of India’s historic victory was looking grim.

The same old story of Ishant Sharma’s inability to win his nation matches was gripping everyone’s mind in absolute dander and disdain. But, this time the man with Midas touch MS Dhoni sensed some magic in the air when out of the blues he asserted to his spearhead to unleash barrage of bouncers on the English players and as they say the rest is history. Ishant got the match turning wicket of Moeen Ali just one over before the lunch. Then, thereafter the English team was swayed away like pack of cards by the majesty and aura of the top-notch Ishant Sharma replicating his magic like cherished from the early phase of his career. His bounces turned into bullets of some penetrating gun which pierced the backbone of the English batters. Sharma ended the match with awe-inspiring and life filling like rejuvenation in the souls of Indian fans performance as he grabbed 7 wickets in the second innings.

Finally, India ended the drought of bizarre streak of defeats on foreign conditions as they latched on to their first ever victory in three years and after 10 defeats which included the drubbing of whitewashes on hands of Australia and England in 2011/12. Again, the home of cricket unfolded a new chapter of silverware in the history of our sport. Now, the fans could smell the same nimbus of circumferent which had made their lives a living joy and piece of delight which had won their belief back on Indian cricket after the epic Kolkata test match in 2001 or the most charming moment of 1983 World cup win.

Highlights of the match:

1. Ajinkya Rahane classic innings of 103 on the first day of the match.

2. Bhubneshwar Kumar’s inspiring 6 wicket-haul in first innings and half-century with the bat in second innings.

3. Ishant Sharma’s “spell from hell” which transformed his second innings figure to 7/74.

4. Ravindra Jadeja counterattacking punch to the English bowlers with his brisk 57 ball 68 runs in the second innings.

5. Murali Vijay’s application of Monk like concentration on the crease with an enterprising knock of 95 runs in the second innings of the match.