And the Sojourn Continues...

Well, maybe it is a little late to be talking about this topic, as enough has been written as well as said about this one. Nonetheless, it never gets old.

A fresh breath of life

It was a refreshing Test season. Sure, it was quite a bit long. But, it was still one of the most scintillating seasons of cricket, particularly Test cricket, in recent years. Even for a team like India, which has absolutely dominated its opponents in its own backyard, it was an engaging experience. And much more importantly, this grand home season of Test cricket breathed a fresh ease of life into the beleaguered format that Test cricket had become, facing dwindling interest and low attendance. This season also hoisted India to the top of the Test rankings, and with a long limited-overs season ahead, this mace is set to remain with the land of Hanuman for a long time to come.

India vs. New Zealand

First up was New Zealand. A strong team, but one that tends to lose momentum at crucial intervals. This series was a crucial one for newly-appointed captain Virat Kohli, to justify his claim as an inspirational leader. And that he did. India romped to a series whitewash, with their captain in red-hot form. There was a short pause to the Test cricket, because of an ODI series, after which action resumed against England.

India vs. England

This series was a special one for me, as it was my first experience inside that little world that goes by the name of the Wankhede stadium. Team India, as well as its captain, were on song, resulting in drawn first Test and a 4-0 whitewash. The spin twins, Ashwin and Jadeja, were spot-on, as they were in the previous series. The consequent limited-overs series resulted in the only series loss for India this entire season. But what it also witnessed was the emergence of young man named Kedar Jadhav; and the resurgence of an old faithful, Yuvraj Singh. It also has to be noted that the Test series produced India's second triple-centurion, Karun Nair, the first, of course being the great Virendra Sehwag.

India vs. Bangladesh

There was the one-off Test against Bangladesh.This match was historic in its own right, as it was the first India-Bangladesh Test carried out on Indian soil. The result, however, wasn't as historic; India trounced Bangladesh by 208 runs.

India vs. Australia

Then came the cherry on top of the cake. The Border-Gavaskar trophy. This climax to the Test season was the most engaging of all. Two firsts happened here which hadn't happened in the season gone by: India lost a Test match; and Virat Kohli did not score a double hundred in this series. Both the teams swung back and forth, both by sessions and words, but it was India who had the last laugh, at least where it was important:on the field. This series was a standout because of a fact which was quite unprecedented in India: In this series, the Indian pacers came to the fore, specially Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma, also Bhuvaneshwar Kumar in the last match. This series also brought India's first male chinaman bowler to the limelight - Kuldeep Yadav. This was probably the best Test series played on Indian soil in the past 7-8 years. With the conclusion of this series, India extended its unbeaten run at home.

Something to look forward to...

The differences that were created during this intensely-fought series have since ceased to exist, as the IPL goes beyond geographical barriers of the nations.
This season, particularly this series, has fed an elixir of life to the ailing old man that Test cricket has now become, prolonging its life even further.

Yeh Das Saal Aapke Naam

Ah! Here comes India's annual festival! And like most of our festivals, this one doesn't occur on the same date every year. But unlike other festivals, this one isn't ancient. In fact, it just turned 10 years old.

Yes, I am talking about the decennial celebration of the world's first-ever T20 league, the IPL. And as we gear up to welcome this festival once more, I can only ponder and exclaim in wonder at the lightning-speed at which this phenomenon has spread across the world. 

Even the most hardcore Test cricket purist will have to admit, albeit forcefully, that T20 cricket has struck a chord with a fan from every age-group. The IPL has simply amplified this in our over-populated, cricket-crazy nation. 

There is a second side to this coin, though. The glitz and instant glamour of this world has left the door open for the unfortunate practice of match-fixing and rendezvous with bookies having criminal tendencies.Young players get instantly attracted to such short-term infatuations, as was seen with some young players in 2013.

Even though this problem cannot entirely be sidelined, a more efficient administration can help restrict such incidents from occurring. What may not be under the control of these good administrators, and is a good thing, is the impact the IPL has on Indian cricket, largely. More players are being produced by the IPL than the traditional first-class establishment. The IPL is also a vital test of form for already-established players. On a much broader spectrum, it has established India as a financial superpower, which is an unprecedented phenomenon. Never before did India see itself as a truly global frontrunner.

So, as India gears up to welcome what was described as "the best cricket league in the world" by RCB captain Virat Kohli, I hope this season throws up some unexpected surprise packages. I hope that it inspires the same amount of confidence in players and fans alike. So, let the celebrations be on a different level altogether! Because, as it was said by the IPL promoters themselves, "Yeh Das Saal Aapke Naam".