Like in 2001 and 2021, India unearthed multiple heroes during their eventual 4-1 decimation of England’s Bazballers, carefree in Hyderabad but were careworn and bedraggled by the time the caravan set stall in this beautiful mountain city. Armed with an unexpected 1-0 lead as India played the most generous and welcoming hosts in the lung-opener, England were rocked by the strength in depth of Indian cricket, with debutants Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel and Akash Deep leading the charge in the third and fourth Tests.

Also Read: Ranji Trophy final: Shardul Thakur shines for Mumbai in first essay vs Vidarbha

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Other notable contributions came from Yashasvi Jaiswal, the four-Test veteran when Ben Stokes’s men arrived in Hyderabad from Abu Dhabi, and Devdutt Padikkal, who became the fifth debutant of the series in the final encounter. Of the five who made their maiden appearances, only Rajat Patidar failed to come up trumps. But the success of the other four points to a robust, vibrant, competitive domestic structure and a solid ‘A’ team policy that has proved its worth at various stages in the past too.

To see these 20-somethings wanting to play Test cricket, wanting to contribute to the team’s cause, wanting to make a name for themselves, is one of the greatest causes of joy from the last seven weeks, apart obviously from the lop-sided scoreline. 

At a time when doomsday pundits are writing copious epitaphs to Test cricket, the new gen, weaned on T20 cricket, finds the longer version as attractive as its illustrious predecessors. To want to immerse themselves in the red-ball cauldron also testifies to the messages emanating from the grassroots level, where for all the focus on innovation and range-hitting and multiple bowling variations, there is no discernible shift from the emphasis on being solid in the basics.

The domestic calendar is a little too packed and players competing in the business end of the Ranji Trophy, especially, are knackered by the time the title clash arrives, given the short turnaround time between games. 

Two-way communication

That’s something Shardul Thakur alluded to not long back, and it’s something Rahul Dravid, the head coach, believes needs to be seriously looked into. To feel emboldened to voice his opinion, like Thakur did, is also another example of the two-way communication process Indian cricket has encouraged in recent times. The devil is largely in the details, and what has manifested in the park in the last 45 days has much to do with attention to those details.