Rise and Shine of Team India

As the Swirling Seventies were coming to an end, one blistering over to Sadiq Mohammad in Faislabad announced the arrival of a grand new fast bowler.
As the world rolled into the Nervous Nineties, a bloodied nose and some defiant batsmanship (again at Faislabad), signalled the emergence of another genius.
Fifteen years later, as we bask in the after-glow of the new millennium, a double victory in Pakistan marks the birth of something much, much more significant: Team India.
Kapil Dev, of course, won hearts, claimed wickets and plundered runs with a toothy grin for the next 15 years; Sachin Tendulkar took over from him and is still changing the world of cricket with a shy smile and a broader willow. Today, as Ganguly''s Boys in Blue came back from Pakistan with their heads held aloft, two players (if not three) are promising to take India to unimaginable heights with their confidence and infectious laughs.
Irfan Pathan and Laxmipathy Balaji look like little boys trapped in a man''s world: they laugh if they get wickets, they laugh if they get thrashed and they laugh even when nothing''s happening around them.
They must be wondering at this moment if they are living somebody else''s beautiful dream. Just a few weeks ago, even the contours of the dream seemed to be beyond their grasp: one was bowling in the backwaters of an under-19 tournament; the other wasn''t even in the original party for the trip Down Under.
Injuries to Nehra, Zaheer and Agarkar first gave them an opportunity to showcase their talents and then thrust them headlong into a world dominated by batsmen. They went across the border laughing; soon, they were plotting India''s greatest victory.
At the start of the season, Yuvraj Singh too knew that he had virtually no hope of getting into the Indian middle order. He moved up to the opening slot but before he could reach there, Akaash Chopra filled up the vacancy.
Ironically, another injury afforded him a similar platform. Yuvraj grabbed it with his powerful willow and exuberance. He may not yet be a permanent feature but he has shown that when the opportunity arrives, he will be ready.
Dozens of great moments unfolded during the entire series: a sensational catch by Kaif was followed by a stunning six off Shoaib Akhtar by Balaji. A magic ball by Tendulkar was preceded by another Sehwag six that made him India''s first triple centurion. Irfan''s outswingers. Balaji''s inswingers. Kumble''s googlies. Dravid''s patience. Parthiv''s tenacity. The list is endless.
But there''s only one moment that proclaimed the biggest jump for Team India: Dravid''s declaration when Tendulkar was on 194. Tendulkar may have been stunned initially; but the look of disbelief on his face after the victory in Multan amply conveyed that he had put it beyond him. The good news is that India eventually won; the more important indicator is that team interests were placed ahead of individual conquests; the best thing, however, is that the incident has been forgotten and the team celebrated like a bunch of schoolboys.
One only hopes that India''s won''t have to wait another ten years or more to visit Pakistan or to unearth another champion cricketer.