Mumbai were in top form throughout the tournament this year until they came to the knockout stage. A rain washed ground pitch and complacency cost them their place in the semis and this is by far a very poor showing from the team. A team which has an impeccable Ranji record and are by far a better team than many in the country.
This game though demonstrates the beauty of test cricket in which a single day or even a session can ruin the entire series. There has been a lot of debate around the possible demise of test cricket for the shorter form of the game the T-20. This match is one where the intricacies of test cricket are on display. People often complain that a 5 day match is too long to follow, but this is the game where cricketing skills are best shown compared to all other forms combined.
Perhaps the lack of following or the argument in favour of it stems from the lack of understanding of game itself. Every single session counts and each session is played with different tactics. Of course exceptions like a certain Virender Sehwag do come in who defy this logic, but they are just 1 face of the game. Usually, the team showing counts and every single player matters. To get a feeling, think of 1 of the 11 players getting injured on the first morning while fielding. It has happened before and the batting is reduced to 10 men, but that only adds to the drama.
This last year though has been good for Indian test cricket as whole and also for other teams around the world. Hopefully, this trend does continue and may the tribe increase.
Vikram
