In a sense, the Kohli era in Indian Test cricket has now well and truly begun. And early indications are it will be always bold and occasionally boorish, but also compelling to the core. Barring the second innings of the first Test, Team India batted with grit, bowled with fire and guile and snapped most chances (though Rahul, who dropped three catches, might differ) that came its way. It's never easy to recover from a defeat, especially after being on top for much of the game. But skipper Kohli was far better at rallying his troops, marshalling his resources than his opposite number, Angelo Mathews. Kohli also seems to have got the best and out of Ishant Sharma.
The beanpole bowler spouted venom and not just with his in-cutters and bouncers - and spearheaded the Indian attack with heart, especially in the third Test. His match figures, eight for 86, underline his incisiveness. The series really was won by the two spinners, R Ashwin (21 wickets) and Amit Mishra (15). The leggie was generally out in the cold in the Dhoni regime. But this is a new era. Corporate preachers could take a lesson from India's teamwork. Pujara, rather unfairly kept out earlier, answered his critics with a classy 145 not out. Only three Indians (Sunil Gavaskar, Sehwag and Dravid) have carried the bat before. Ajinkya Rahane, Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Rohit Sharma, Saha, Naman Ojha and Rahul - all played their parts with honesty, if not to full satisfaction. Rahane also equalled the world record of maximum catches for a non-wicketkeeper in a match: 8.
You could excuse Virat Kohli's men if they have no memories of India's last Test series triumph in Sri Lanka. It happened in another millennium, 1993 to be precise. Those days Mohd Azharuddin was India's captain and Kapil Dev was still playing cricket. Since then, several greats - Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, MS Dhoni - captained India with distinction and retired. But winning a Test series again in Lanka seemed daunting. The Lions at home looked indomitable. Undeniably, this was the weakest Lankan squad in years. But like the hosts, India too is in transition. At the end of a rare, tightly-contested series involving India in recent years, captain Kohli's rough and restless men wrenched out a 2-1 victory, the country's first away series win since 2011.
India’s next test series with South Africa at their home ground in November. It will be the tough challenge for South Africa to win with Kohli’s team. Fast bowler Mohammad Shami will play against visitors after a long injury. Dhawan or Vijay one can be add in the squad.
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