Golden Era of Indian Cricket ?

         It is more then one year now since Indian cricket team is performing consistently in all the three formats of International Cricket Council (I.C.C.) which are Test Match, One Day International and T20, that is why it is able to reach the number one rankings of Test Match and among the top three teams of one day international rankings of ICC and it is keep on changing with every match result, no doubt it is first time that Indian cricket team silent its critics for months simply because of its performance on the field and playing like a unit instead of divided into small fractions or groups or playing for individual instead of team, so they deserve pat/applauds from followers of games plus one cannot ignore the contribution of the coach.
      India with number Test team tag landed in South Africa to play three test matches against South Africa which is number two rankings of ICC and India’s crown is at stake if it lost the series then it will be no more number one test team, stats speak against India as its past record in South Africa is not in its favour because India never one test series in South Africa. All it make India to get down on the ground with its full strength mentally and physically, it is worth mentioning here that one point which is in favour in this battle for Indians that is coach Gary Kirstein is South African and he knows plus and minus of South African players.
      On 16th December,2010 both team get down to show their supremacy against other team at Super Sport Park, Centurion. South Africa won the toss and opted to field first and at the end of first day for Indian supporters picture was very dismal as its top gun flopped and score was 136 for the loss of nine wickets, MS Dhoni at 33 and JD Unadkat at 1 were at crease in just 38.1 overs because bad lights and rain stop the game during the course of the day, next day was just a formality for Indian cricket team as just facing three balls team was all out at same score, experts had their observations because of fast track India was bundled at 136 and Indian bowlers especially pacers can bring back India into the game, but as the South African inning progress every predictions prove wrong and at the end of second day South Africa was 366 for the loss of 2 wickets and worse for India was store for next day and on third day after facing 130.1 overs South Africa declared their innings and score was 620 for the loss of 4 wickets and Indian cricket team was 484 run behind of South Africa’s total, at the end of the third day India was 190 for the loss of 2 wickets, during fourth day Sachin and MS Dhoni try to drag India’s defeat little bit and on fourth day India’s score was 454 for the loss of 8 wickets and India was still 30 run short of South Africa’s first innings total on fifth day after adding just five runs in their second innings India all out for 459, thus India lost the game with an innings and 25 runs.
     On 26th December, 2010 second test started and for India the test was either won or draw other wise the number one rankings no more with India. South Africa won the toss second time and opted to field first, India despite loosing first six wickets for just 156 at the end of the first day score was little bit respectable 183 for the loss of 6 wickets and MS Dhoni at 20 and Harbhajan Singh at 15 were at crease, next day India all out for 205 scores and it was not such a big total but one can say it was challengeable, Indian bowlers bundle out South Africa for merely at 131 runs in 37.2 overs and India get lead of 74 runs and at the end of second day India was 92 for 4 and total score of India was 166,India end their second innings with a good score of 302 score and for south Africa to win match and series they need to score 302 runs but at the end of third day South Africa was 111 for the lose of three wickets and it gave ray of hope for Indian fans that India can won the match and last day India grab rest of south Africa’s wickets at the total of 215 and India won the match by 87 runs and level the series 1-1.
     Last match of the series between India and South Africa started on 2nd January,2011 at Newlands, Capetown and for Indian it was not a ground where they have perform which please their supporters and till date have played three test matches –

• Year 1993 test match was drawn
• Year 1997 lost the match by 282 runs
• Year 2007 defeat by five wickets

interestingly all the matches included started yesterday were played on 2nd of January but India has yet to registered its first victory in Capetown and also yet to win test series but enthusiastic captain MS Dhoni declared that his team is ready to create history so time up to 6 January, 2011 is important for Indian Cricket and will prove whether MS Dhoni was over confident or he was correct .