The Consolatory Win and the Dhoni.

It is time for me to once again inadequately analyse India's superb victory over Australia in yesterday's match.
Once again, we lost the series. But no matter, we won the final match and since it was against Australia, it was a HUGE morale boost.

Now the highlight of yesterday's match was another unsung hero (you'll find that TeamIndia generally has either unsung heroes or overhyped heroes. There's rarely an inbetween... but I'm not complaining). Murali Karthik. He had made a small name for himself with sudden shows of brilliance and then a long retreat into oblivion. In fact, this time round, he had already joined the commentary team of Neo Sports, when halfway through the series, he was called to join the playing 11. He went on to play 3 matches, in all of which he played very well, but yesterday's performance was the showstopper, without a doubt. 6 wickets for 27 runs in 10 over. A couple of maiden overs, one 2 wicket maiden and one 3 wicket maiden. He was on a hat-trick twice. The best performance by a left arm spinner in the history of ODI cricket, and the best performance by any Indian bowler against Australia.

And to top it all off, he batted like a hero at the end, supporting Zaheer Khan, playing and missing many times, but never losing courage and in the end, seeing India through to a memorable victory. Could we Indian supporters ask for more?

I think all our batsmen need to stand up and applaud our bowlers and humbly accept that they were one-upped by the bowlers yesterday. Let's face it, our bowlers bowled Australia out for a paltry 193 and then went on to bat bravely at the end to see India home. This game was won by our bowlers' gutsiness, Dhoni's captaincy and Uthappa's knock of 47. So everyone else really needs to graciously step away and let these heroes take the attention for this game. The way they were celebrating, honestly anyone could have been forgiven for assuming they won the series. But that is the joy that comes from giving it back to the World Champions in the 50 over format.

I loved watching the interview with Zaks and Karthik at the end of the game. The way the two of them were laughing and poking fun at each other was heartnening to watch. Their attitude towards the victory was also nice to see, the enthusiasm was clearly there, though neither is a youngster.

But beyond all the celebratory scenes, what I loved MOST was Dhoni's reaction. He was evidently pleased (which captain wouldn't be, what with the way the bowlers stood up to the task at hand?), but the calmness with which he accepted the victory, the grace with which he immediately went out to shake the Australian players' hands was very nice to watch. I suppose you could say that was because they lost the series here. But go back and look at his reactions after they won the T20 World Cup. He NEVER got carried away. The minute they won, he gathered his team into a huddle and apparently, uttered a surprising but rather admirable one-liner advice: "Sab kuch normal rakhne ka." Meaning, keep everything normal. He knew how they would be elevated to holy status by their fans, but he also knew how fickle these fans were and how they wouldn't hesitate to stab them in the back if they were to lose in the next series. And he had had first hand taste of this when fans stoned his under construction house in Ranchi when he scored a duck in the WC match against SL earlier this year.

It was very heartening to know that we have at the helm of the Indian team ship, a captain whose feet are firmly planted in the ground, whose heart lies with the team first and whose head thinks sensibly and rationally. His honesty is refreshing, his diplomacy always has a twist to it, his dry wit is chuckle-worthy and his confidence, enthusiasm and spirit has obviously seeped through to the rest of the team. Even when they are losing, his attitude never seems defeated, his comments at the post match presentation and press conferences are to the point and he doesn't avoid the blame or try to shift the blame to any one player. His positive, smiling attitude and his agressive, biker dude image, oxymoronic as they may be, truly emphasize the little twist of character that he has brought to TeamIndia. All in all, I find him a thoroughly likeable captain.

I hope he stays that way, and I hope his popularity continues to build. :)