Make no mistake, Indians are a conservative lot. We are also seriously self-critical, always trying to portray ourselves as advocates of reasonable critical analysis. Hence, thinking that India is the heir apparent to the cricket throne following our success against Australia and the continuing demolition of England has resulted in murmurs from across the country. Experts have been quick to suggest that we are perhaps jumping the gun. While these arguments have merit, it may also be that we are still unaccustomed to imagining India at the top.

The fact is, on current form, India is the best side in the world. We are already champions in cricket’s shortest format and we won the crown away from home in South African conditions. In the fifty over one-day format, we have beaten Australia in Australia, Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka (despite expectations of a rout), and are now leading England at home, expecting a convincing series win in the days to come. In Tests, we beat the West Indies in the West Indies in 2006, won a match against South Africa in South Africa the same year, beat England in England in 2007, Pakistan at home and then came back after the Sydney fiasco to win at Perth, the hallowed fortress of Australian domination, in January 2008. That comeback, after the acrimony of the Sydney Test was reason enough to acknowledge that this Indian side was different, that it wasn’t one to crumble under pressure — an ability that was once again on display at Nagpur in the concluding Test of the series, when the Australians were eyeing a comeback after reducing India to 162 for 6 on day 4. However, that was not to be, and India has now followed the Perth win with a convincing series win against Australia at home. The Indians are certainly the heir-apparents if not the heirs, with the ceremonial transfer of power mere days away.

... contd.