Team India makes it count at Lord's

The Dhoni-led Indian cricket team has managed what the Messi-led Argentine football couldn’t two Sundays ago: recreate the magical year of 1986. The last time India breached Fortress Lord’s was 28 years ago, aided by Dilip Vengsarkar’s unbeaten 126.

This time — only the second time in history — the Indian victory was spearheaded by a deadly stretch of raiding missions by Ishant Sharma on the final day of the second Test. With five wickets down at lunch, English grit was still palpable in the air. With Ravindra Jadeja’s second innings knock of 68 and Bhuvneshwar Kumar pitching in with 52 after scalping six wickets in the first innings, we were all looking at a battle of attrition.

With the Lord’s wicket assisting pace bowlers, it became a test of whether Indian bowlers could do unto the opposition what the opposition usually does unto them. And Sharma, with his hair flying, knocked back seven wickets, making the England second innings look like goose feathers after a pillow fight. With the first Test in Trent Bridge drawn, India had nothing to lose but a tryst with cricketing history. The last time India won at Lord’s, it went on to win the series.

Dhoni can take pleasure in the fact that a Lord’s victory not only updates the record books but also brings back a much-needed rush of blood into his team’s veins.