India excels in cricket as it did in hockey in the last century. The Indian team beat New Zealand by 321 runs in the final match of three Tests. That elevated it to the position of numero uno in global cricket. Virat Kohli, the captain radiates confidence. Both Indian batsmen and bowlers are capable of great doings. Kohli’s team has won four series in succession. Mahendra Singh Dhoni who has featured in a biopic retired from test cricket in December 2014. Kohli has proved himself an admirable successor. But the challenge before him is pretty tough. The top four test teams nudge each other- India has 115 points, Pakistan 111, Australia 108 and England 108. India had difficulty in winning the series against the Kiwis. Top batsmen showed inconsistency. India’s pacemen are not up to the mark.
T- 20 and ODIs are now popular events in cricket. But those who are genuine cricket fans still think that the ultimate challenge in the game lies in success in test matches. It is in test matches that cricketing talent is best tested. Playing at home is of course easier than playing away. The remaining ten tests will be played on India’s home stretch which gives Kohli’s team an obvious advantage. But Kohli and his boys will have to cover themselves in glory even on foreign pitches. That will give India’s cricketing team its crowning glory.