They have finally done it. When England were batting in their second innings, doubts were flying freely. But when it was India’s turn, they did not falter, which also perhaps explains why they actually won this first Test even when they were caught napping.
Now it can be confirmed. India have officially won the first Test against England at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium to go 1-0 up. To think that it was perhaps not even contemplated possible twenty-four hours ago is what makes this even more special. After five days of drama that sometimes threatened to rush things through, the match went into the fifth day with all three results possible – a win for England, a win for India and the remote possibility of a draw.
Perhaps what tilted the match in the favour of one team over another was the fact that only one team appear hungrier and more positive to win than the other. If anything, after showing positive approach in the first Test despite their one day series loss, England showed their first moments of fragility that meant that an innings like Sehwag left them feeling defensive even if Andrew Strauss suggested otherwise.
A more attacking, confident approach would have perhaps made matters more interesting. But the Indian dressing room seemed to have cornered the positive thought that we can win so comprehensively on the back of Virender Sehwag’s innings that even England were caught doubting themselves.
It helped then that instead of suffering hiccups, India always looked comfortable on the fifth day, which is remarkable in itself. To think that it was England who were not looking at the runs and instead looking at the time in which to pick up wickets were suddenly forced to change gears. But even they could not stifle the Indian batting that gave one the impression that this was not necessarily the fifth’s day pitch.

Credit must go to Sachin Tendulkar for playing a role that not only ensured India a sturdy match winner but also, meant that Yuvraj Singh had an incredible mentor to guide him and partner him through what has been a rather difficult time for him in the Test scenario. Like Sachin himself says in a popular ad, “I know what it means to be a part of the team.” It could not have been emphasized any better than on this day.
Their century plus partnership ensured that the blips in the form of V.V.S. Laxman’s dismissals in the match and Rahul Dravid’s wretched run wrecked no havoc whatsoever on India’s fortunes.
From Tendulkar’s perspective, it was his forty-first Test century, in a record that only keeps drifting him further and further apart from the rest of the league. It was perhaps only befitting to his efforts on the fifth day to ensure victory where even a draw would have sufficed to keep the momentum going after Sehwag. That his century complemented India’s victory moments was a script enchanting to Indian cricket fans.
England started the fourth day thinking this would be their best chance for victory. They batted on with Andrew Strauss in superfluous vein and Paul Collingwood staging a revival of sorts. They had the runs on board when Kevin Pietersen thought it was time. They would still had hopes of a victory on the morning of the fifth day, but it would have dimmed a little when Sehwag was raging.
But day five turned out contrary to expectations for England as they found themselves trying to restrict runs that simply refused to cease of the Indians’ bat. For India, it was a fight back, coming from behind. While it should have not perhaps been as hard, especially after trouncing Australia in the Border Gavaskar, that it was, was perhaps a sign that much needs to be done if India are to get to the top.
It is not particularly a bad thing because the team will only grow in confidence over its ability to see off adversity to victory. What could be a better testimonial than this match?380157