Click for full imageWhat a superb match and a sensational win to Team India. MS Dhoni’s boys did what previous Indian legends could never accomplish. This win in the best of three finals will rank as high as the Twenty20 World Cup. Massive celebrations at the end of the match clearly indicated the emotions that the Indians were going through. After a controversial summer, the Indians managed to tell the Aussies - Shut the hell up.

Sachin Tendulkar was the standout performer for India and played two dream innings just when it mattered. He silenced his critics, for now, by playing match winning knocks in the crucial finals. But the real heroes were the 19 and 20 year olds backed by their maverick captain. I still remember Dhoni calling this team as “My team” in the presentation ceremony. This performance, coupled with the T20 win, has surely put an end to the One day careers of Dravid, Laxman and Ganguly.

Playing with the most inexperienced side in this tri-series, Dhoni and his “boys” have proven that experience without will and talent is like a glass without water. I, for one, had been extremely impressed by the selectors’ decision to pack the squad with these talented youngsters. The fact was that these players had already proven themselves in the T20 World Cup. How many tournaments have Tendulkar, Ganguly, Dravid and Laxman won for India? I am not questioning the talent and experience of these four, but at the end of the day, results matter.

The squad plays for each other, rather than for themselves. Case in point: Dhoni had sore hands in the finals. Uthappa and Yuvraj were catching all the throws to protect their skipper’s hands. Dhoni has earned the respect of his team-mates, including Sachin. No wonders they play for him. His real strength has always been to back himself against all odds. In the finals, he decided to play Piyush and Praveen Kumar. Piyush did not play a single match during the league phase. Praveen Kumar had not taken a single wicket before India’s last match against Sri Lanka. Both were key figures in the wins.

Ishant Sharma, just 19 years old, was the standout bowler of all three teams. His aggression and pace were the talking points of the entire series. India have definitely unearthed a real gem here, and he needs to be carefully looked after. His fitness needs to be priority for the team management. The tall, lanky youngster will be a key performer for India in all formats of the game in the future.

Rohit Sharma has definitely proven his abilities by some solid middle order batting right throughout the series. It seems that the Number 4 position is tailor-made for him. He has the technique and the temperament to be compared to the Great Wall of India, none other than Dravid. And that is saying a lot less than what Rohit really is capable of. His straight drives are a treat to watch and his balance is simply perfect. Rohit Sharma is already a match winner for India.

Then there is Robin Uthappa. Not really clicking in this series, he did more than enough in the two finals as he played in the opening position, a place where he is most comfortable. Although there wasn’t a lot of flamboyance from him, he did play to the team’s plan of not losing his wicket early. He is still young and there is plenty more to learn, but he can be a real destroyer when he wants to be. Definitely a man that India needs at the top of the order.

Yes, I was extremely disappointed (on the verge of being pissed off), that Sehwag was dropped for both the finals. I still think that India would do even better with him in the team. However, Dhoni proved me as well millions more wrong by sticking to his 5 bowlers theory in part helped by the all-round capabilities of Pathan and Kumar.

Talking of Pathan, he has had a terrific season until the first final. He has been picking up wickets regularly and scoring runs with the bat as well. The strategy of sending him in 3rd backfired, and the Indian team management did well to send him down the order. Getting Gambhir to come in at number 3 was another touch of genius decision-making as he ended up being the top scorer in the series. Yes, the future is bright for India. Its game on against South Africa.

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