All in all, another Test series win was the perfect icing on the cake for India in an eventful 2008, while England returned home with their heads held high and their reputation intact.

Artificial excitement

But the cricket on Tuesday did not have any real excitement. The final six-ball burst from Mahendra Singh Dhoni — bowling between a healthy 120-127 kmph with VVS Laxman keeping wickets — was the best PR exercise for spectators, better than the mock soft-drink fight between Ishant, Zaheer, Dhoni and Yuvraj during the presentation ceremony, with Harbhajan Singh’s attempt to switch-hit finishing a close third.

India continued batting on Day Five, delayed again by fog, but were more aggressive than they had been on Monday. Yuvraj started the surge, hitting effortlessly over long-on and square-leg — he smacked Broad for two consecutive sixes — as Gambhir joined the fun. Both quickly got past their 50s, but India batted on after lunch, declaring only after Yuvraj was run out for 86 and Gambhir had fallen three short of a ton.

Leaving England with 403 to chase from a scheduled 43 overs, they got the wicket of Alastair Cook, caught off Zaheer Khan at second slip, but couldn’t make any further inroads as Ian Bell (24) and Strauss (21) stood firm until stumps.

As India gathered for a little huddle at the end, the visitors deserved a vote of thanks too.

Gautam Gambhir interview Page 22