India's reign as the top-ranked Test team was expected to be brief. But the side had shown character and resilience to dig in deep in adverse situations to extend its tenure beyond the expectations of many doubters.
Of course, the absence of impressive young paceman Hamish Bennett — New Zealand was reduced to three specialist bowlers in the Indian second innings— helped the cause of the host here.
Franklin called up
The Kiwis have subsequently called up pace bowling all-rounder James Frankin for the remaining two Tests of the series.
However, any side that recovers from 15 for five to save the match comfortably deserves credit. When in trouble, India has found men for the occasion.
Whether it was a match-saving stand between Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh against the Aussies in the Bangalore Test a couple of seasons ago, India's magnificent comeback spearheaded by Sachin Tendulkar on a testing fifth day track at Chepauk as India successfully chased against England, or the stirring rearguard action in Napier when India was seemingly down for the count, the side has found the right answers at the crunch.
In more recent times, V.V.S. Laxman's unbeaten hundred at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium in Colombo during India's triumphant chase on a demanding pitch underlined the side's fighting qualities.
Then, the heroic partnership between Laxman and Ishant Sharma turned the Test on its head as India squeezed out a come-from-behind last gasp victory over Australia in a titanic duel at Mohali.
And India bucked the odds yet again when Laxman and Harbhajan Singh produced a compelling 163-run partnership for the seventh wicket as the host forced a draw from a precarious situation at Motera here.
Laxman's fighting qualities
Laxman's calm mind, smooth strokes and an astute cricketing brain have been the common factor in several of India's comebacks. He has put his hand up, made his quality and experience count.
In stressful situations, this humble man grows in stature. He makes runs when the side needs it the most, has this uncanny knack of soaking up pressure in the cauldron. His friendly exterior masks a fighter who relishes the sniff of a duel.
India's comebacks are reminiscent of some of Australia's fightbacks under Mark Taylor before the side, led by Steve Waugh, became a ruthless, largely winning force.
In the Tayor era, Australia, time after time, scripted great escapes through Steve Waugh and Ian Healy. That side was hard to break but was still not an all conquering one.
The challenge before India now is to move to the next level where it would become a dominant side rather than one that often lands in trouble before finding a way out.
This India team is fortunate is possess someone like Virender Sehwag, who can set the tempo, push the opposition to the back-foot from the outset. Mentally, the attack takes a pounding.
Yet, if you look at the first Test at Ahmedabad, India did not really push hard after Sehwag's marauding 173 on the first day. The side let the initiative slip, something not befitting the world champion.
The inexperienced New Zealand side not only managed to avoid the follow-on but got close enough to India's 487 to be in a position to surprise the home team.
The pitch favoured the batsmen but was by no means a flat track. There was a measure of assistance for the spinners if they bowled in the rights areas. Sadly, the quality of spin bowling in both the sides was grossly disappointing.
Harbhajan's batting exploits in the Test were heroic. He is a feisty cricketer, particularly when the chips are down. However, Harbhajan, the destructive off-spinner, has to come to the fore. That is his role in the side.
