New Delhi: Despite being placed third in the ICC rankings, India seem to have more raw material to build a truly formidable team. The series in New Zealand was just the latest pit stop for the men on the fast track.
As the drizzle turned into a downpour, did MS Dhoni's mind start to wander to the start of day four? Did he delay the declaration? Even as he held up the trophy, could 1-0 have been a 2-0 win?
We were expecting around 110 overs, but we don't really regret it," Dhoni said after receiving the winners' trophy. "We made the most of the opportunities we got. We would have been happier with a 2-0 win, but that's the way it goes."
Clearly, this tour to New Zealand is another feather in an already populated cap for Dhoni and his men: a first ever one-day series win in the country, a Test series win for the first time since 1968. This is a team that is ticking off milestone after milestone.
"Overall I think it was good," Dhoni said. "We didn't rely on one specific individual, everybody contributed. Each and every batsman scored at some point in this series, and the same goes for the bowlers. At times there was a particular end which wasn't favouring the seamers, it was maybe because of the wind or there wasn't much help from the wicket."
For Harbhajan Singh and Gautam Gambhir, however, this in many ways will be considered a breakthrough tour. Harbhajan emerged from the shadows of Anil Kumble as the senior spin bowler, taking 16 wickets to lead the tally. While Gambhir, undoubtedly placed himself as the leader of the future of India's batting - 445 runs at a staggering average of 89.00 - to claim the man of the match and series awards.
"There was a lot of talk that this was going to be the biggest test for any opening batsman," Gambhir said. "We didn't do that well the last time we were here. So it was one of the biggest challenges on my first foreign tour. It was really satisfying."
But the senior players continue to silence the wagging tongues. Sachin Tendulkar, ageless and masterful, made a hundred and a couple of half-centuries. VVS Laxman, grace personified, a hundred to save the second Test match, invaluable in whites to the team. And Rahul Dravid, leaving a horror run of form well behind with four half-centuries, and pouching a world record for most Test catches, very much still a part of a vibrant dressing room.
"Taking catches is about the team, about helping your bowlers, and you need the bowlers to create the next for you," Dravid said of his record. "I've been fortunate over the last 13 years. I've played with some very, very good bowlers and I've been lucky to have done that."
It will be a few months before this Indian team wears the whites again, but a journey to the top of the tree is rumbling on. Success is now virtually guaranteed with these men
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