Indian cricket has taken giant strides in the world’s toughest testing ground. Some wonderful cricket was played on the ground and it was the attitude that fuelled it as much as the ability. This might be the turning point in our cricket, though the assessment must be made a little later — every event seems momentous in the hours immediately following it.

But as far as I recall, it has been a long time since a set of youngsters took the opportunity that was offered them so spontaneously and that is why I believe the reason for this success goes beyond training on a cricket ground. It has to be symbolic of a larger force, a greater movement. Something bigger than what we saw on a cricket field is taking place in India and that is what makes the present moment so terribly exciting.

Opportunity and confidence are a wonderful pair, and few nations in the world experience both at the same time. Indian cricketers have had opportunities in the past as well but many were hesitant, unsure of the big stage, happy to be substantial at home and negligible elsewhere. I don’t think many believed in themselves. They were probably weighed down by the reputations of their opponents, and when defeat is anticipated it is the most frequently achieved result. However, when confidence accompanies opportunity, when the mind is driven by visions of success, defeat can be stopped in its tracks.

That is what was most exciting about watching India play in Australia. Irfan Pathan took his opportunity in the Perth Test, one of the great highlights of our cricket; Praveen Kumar, shy and gauche, grabbed his in the one-dayers; so did Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma, and even Robin Uthappa and Piyush Chawla. But few people have made as much of an impact in such a short while as Ishant Sharma. The world is now his oyster and he must tread carefully and confidently ahead.

... contd.