Harsh Thakor
First Class Star
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2012
- Runs
- 3,519
- Post of the Week
- 2
Exactly 40 years ago on 20th January India clinched a 6 test rubber at Madras versus old foes Pakistan ,winning the fifth test by 10 wickets,Pakistan were virtually considered invincible before this series with the odds totally stacked against India.One year previously it had received a sound 2-0 thrashing in Pakistan. At that time Pakistan were considered amongst the 3 best team sin the world with West Indies and Australia.No team in recent years came so close to toppling both Australia and West Indies.Sadly it suffered a great misfortune with the loss of Packer players in England in 1978 .Pakistan boasted of the best batting line up in the world with the likes of Majid,Zaheer Miandad,Asif Iqbal and Wasim Raja.I feel it was the greatest upset ever in the history of Pakistan cricket.
Facing their mighty opponents India mustered its adrelanin in the 1st test itself displaying great rearguard action after Pakistan amassed a score of 431-8 wickets declared.Scoring 416 in reply it revealed the depth of it's batting.
In the 2nd test although skittled out for a mere 128 runs India rose like a phoenix from the Ashes to come within touch distance of famous win chasing a target of 391 in the 4th innings.Notable tat Sikander ***** who had ripped the heart out of India's batting in the 1st innings was injured and so too was Imran.Credit must also go to Kapil Dev for a 5 wicket spell that brought India back into the game.Dilip Vengsarkar proved that he was amonsgt the world's best batsmen with an unbeaten 146, in the 2nd innings,playing the role of a fulcrum in India giving echoes of its famous run chase at the Oval just a few months before.He executed some of the most dazzling drives revealing great elan.
In the 3rd test in Mumbai After struggling at 154-6 some magnificeint resistance by Kapil Dev and Kirmanai steed India out of trouble.In the 1st innings of that game when Pakistan batted the course of the series was determined or defined with a sensational middle order collapse by Pakistan.Arguably many were victims of controversial umpiring decisions ,particularly lg-before ones.Chasing a target of 321 in the 2nd innings Pakistan succumbed to 190,again being victims of some dubious decisions.Neverthless the likes of Dilip Doshi revealed their great art as spinners who bowled some unfaceable balls.This win was like a chapter in a new script written,like an invincible army defeated.The likes of Zaheer Abbas,Majid Khan and Asif Iqbal wee virtually beguiled with only Javed and Wasim Raja resisting.
In the 4th test India were virtually resurrected from the grave by tailenders like Karsan Ghavri after being precariously played at 69-8.Such recoveries marked anew trend in Indian cricket who in previous times would simply capitulate like a pack of cards.It was such spirited resistance by India in the gravest of times that defined the fate of this series.Pakistan too staged a brilliant recovery with great defiance by Wasim Raja .However rain robbed the game of any possibility of a result.
In the 5th test India maginificiently rose to the hour with the Sunil Gavaskar-Kapil Dev combination coming to the fore.These 2 stalwarts virtually defined Indian cricket and this game was a perfect illustration.Gavaskar was the architect,Kapil Dev was the executioner.Gavaskar scored a painstaking 166 bogging down the Pakistan bowling attack ,displaying supreme concentration.Kapil Dev took 4,90 and 7-76 displaying the heart of a lion and also scored a swashbucling 84.It was a revelation seeing 2 players of completely contrasting styles at their best.Gavaskar was concentration and technical correctness personified.Kapil was the epitome of agression.I can never forget how Kapil dazzled the Pakistani batsmen with his outswingers and bounce close to the bat.Spirit of surrender was virtually written on the faces of the Pakistani players on the filed who looked like a subdued army.
Pakistan considerably salvaged its self respect in the 6th and final test at Kolkata but again the Indian tail defied them in both innings with strong counter resistance.On the final day Pakistan semed on course for victory before the intervention of some prize scalps like Asif Iqbal and Wasim Raja.Asif Iqbal had made one of the most sporting declarations in the 1t sinning with his side still 50 runs adrift.Imran was now bowling at his best and as fiery as ever.Majid too gave glimpses of his old touch.
India had thus against al odds triumphed against its old adversary,winning its 1st series against them for 28 years.It was the equivalent of an invincible army being defeated.Afterall man to man Pakistan was by 2-1 a better side at the start.Arguably it was India's best series win ever if you judge the supposition.Many critiques feel that dubious umpiring decisions, and injuries played key roles in Pakistan's reversal in addition to faulty selections.I could not understand how the selectors dropped Mushtaq Muhammad and Sarafraz Nawaz.Mushtaq's experience would have come in handy in a crisis while Sarfraz would have given much more potency to the subdued attack.I also attribute it to great over-confidence.Still we must congragulate India for this acheivement .In its own right it defined a new era in Indian cricket ,like a spark turning into a prairie fire.I place it only behind India's home and away series triumphs against Australia.
Kapil Dev gave an all-round performance in the series comparable to the greatest all-rounders ever capturing 32 wickets at 17.68 and scoring 308 run sat an average of 30.88.He had 3 five wicket hauls which perplexed the Pakistan's with his great variation,movement and intelligence wile his batting more than once came to the rescue with characteristic attacking style.Kapil was a more agressive form of Vinoo Mankad and gave Indian cricket some of its most defining moments here.Never had a pace bowler sculpted a series win before for India like Kapil Dev had.Gavaskar was an epitome of consistency who displayed his characteristic application and concentration amassing 529 runs,creating the launching pad for India's triumph .Dilip Doshi was too magnificent revealing his mastery in the art of spin bowling.Due credit must also be given to Syed kirmani for his excellent supporting role throughout .Strangely with all their experience the Pakistani batting stalwarts were often dumbfounded or perplexed to the turning ball.
Sadly the loss caused a major storm in Pakistan and the retirement of Asif Iqbal.In my opinion it wast he biggest upset ever faced by Pakistan cricket.The hero for Pakistan was undoubtedly Wasim Raja who averaged 56.90 with some of the finest fifties when his team looked dead and buried.Javed Miandad also displayed strong resilience when batting.
It is very hard to conclude that India was overall the better team in the series but I feel India deserved its win.Rarely in it's history has Indian cricket garnered its forces with as much zeal as here.Whatever the Pakistani commiserations let us congragulate India today on the 4oth anniversary of it's tests series win against Pakistan.Without doubt one of the biggest upsets ever in the history of sport,let alone cricket.
Facing their mighty opponents India mustered its adrelanin in the 1st test itself displaying great rearguard action after Pakistan amassed a score of 431-8 wickets declared.Scoring 416 in reply it revealed the depth of it's batting.
In the 2nd test although skittled out for a mere 128 runs India rose like a phoenix from the Ashes to come within touch distance of famous win chasing a target of 391 in the 4th innings.Notable tat Sikander ***** who had ripped the heart out of India's batting in the 1st innings was injured and so too was Imran.Credit must also go to Kapil Dev for a 5 wicket spell that brought India back into the game.Dilip Vengsarkar proved that he was amonsgt the world's best batsmen with an unbeaten 146, in the 2nd innings,playing the role of a fulcrum in India giving echoes of its famous run chase at the Oval just a few months before.He executed some of the most dazzling drives revealing great elan.
In the 3rd test in Mumbai After struggling at 154-6 some magnificeint resistance by Kapil Dev and Kirmanai steed India out of trouble.In the 1st innings of that game when Pakistan batted the course of the series was determined or defined with a sensational middle order collapse by Pakistan.Arguably many were victims of controversial umpiring decisions ,particularly lg-before ones.Chasing a target of 321 in the 2nd innings Pakistan succumbed to 190,again being victims of some dubious decisions.Neverthless the likes of Dilip Doshi revealed their great art as spinners who bowled some unfaceable balls.This win was like a chapter in a new script written,like an invincible army defeated.The likes of Zaheer Abbas,Majid Khan and Asif Iqbal wee virtually beguiled with only Javed and Wasim Raja resisting.
In the 4th test India were virtually resurrected from the grave by tailenders like Karsan Ghavri after being precariously played at 69-8.Such recoveries marked anew trend in Indian cricket who in previous times would simply capitulate like a pack of cards.It was such spirited resistance by India in the gravest of times that defined the fate of this series.Pakistan too staged a brilliant recovery with great defiance by Wasim Raja .However rain robbed the game of any possibility of a result.
In the 5th test India maginificiently rose to the hour with the Sunil Gavaskar-Kapil Dev combination coming to the fore.These 2 stalwarts virtually defined Indian cricket and this game was a perfect illustration.Gavaskar was the architect,Kapil Dev was the executioner.Gavaskar scored a painstaking 166 bogging down the Pakistan bowling attack ,displaying supreme concentration.Kapil Dev took 4,90 and 7-76 displaying the heart of a lion and also scored a swashbucling 84.It was a revelation seeing 2 players of completely contrasting styles at their best.Gavaskar was concentration and technical correctness personified.Kapil was the epitome of agression.I can never forget how Kapil dazzled the Pakistani batsmen with his outswingers and bounce close to the bat.Spirit of surrender was virtually written on the faces of the Pakistani players on the filed who looked like a subdued army.
Pakistan considerably salvaged its self respect in the 6th and final test at Kolkata but again the Indian tail defied them in both innings with strong counter resistance.On the final day Pakistan semed on course for victory before the intervention of some prize scalps like Asif Iqbal and Wasim Raja.Asif Iqbal had made one of the most sporting declarations in the 1t sinning with his side still 50 runs adrift.Imran was now bowling at his best and as fiery as ever.Majid too gave glimpses of his old touch.
India had thus against al odds triumphed against its old adversary,winning its 1st series against them for 28 years.It was the equivalent of an invincible army being defeated.Afterall man to man Pakistan was by 2-1 a better side at the start.Arguably it was India's best series win ever if you judge the supposition.Many critiques feel that dubious umpiring decisions, and injuries played key roles in Pakistan's reversal in addition to faulty selections.I could not understand how the selectors dropped Mushtaq Muhammad and Sarafraz Nawaz.Mushtaq's experience would have come in handy in a crisis while Sarfraz would have given much more potency to the subdued attack.I also attribute it to great over-confidence.Still we must congragulate India for this acheivement .In its own right it defined a new era in Indian cricket ,like a spark turning into a prairie fire.I place it only behind India's home and away series triumphs against Australia.
Kapil Dev gave an all-round performance in the series comparable to the greatest all-rounders ever capturing 32 wickets at 17.68 and scoring 308 run sat an average of 30.88.He had 3 five wicket hauls which perplexed the Pakistan's with his great variation,movement and intelligence wile his batting more than once came to the rescue with characteristic attacking style.Kapil was a more agressive form of Vinoo Mankad and gave Indian cricket some of its most defining moments here.Never had a pace bowler sculpted a series win before for India like Kapil Dev had.Gavaskar was an epitome of consistency who displayed his characteristic application and concentration amassing 529 runs,creating the launching pad for India's triumph .Dilip Doshi was too magnificent revealing his mastery in the art of spin bowling.Due credit must also be given to Syed kirmani for his excellent supporting role throughout .Strangely with all their experience the Pakistani batting stalwarts were often dumbfounded or perplexed to the turning ball.
Sadly the loss caused a major storm in Pakistan and the retirement of Asif Iqbal.In my opinion it wast he biggest upset ever faced by Pakistan cricket.The hero for Pakistan was undoubtedly Wasim Raja who averaged 56.90 with some of the finest fifties when his team looked dead and buried.Javed Miandad also displayed strong resilience when batting.
It is very hard to conclude that India was overall the better team in the series but I feel India deserved its win.Rarely in it's history has Indian cricket garnered its forces with as much zeal as here.Whatever the Pakistani commiserations let us congragulate India today on the 4oth anniversary of it's tests series win against Pakistan.Without doubt one of the biggest upsets ever in the history of sport,let alone cricket.
