THE stunning come-from-behind four-wicket victory achieved by the Indian cricket team over the mighty Australians at Adelaide Oval could be the best thing that has happened not only to Indian cricket but to international cricket as well.

Far too long the Australians have gone strutting around with the puffed-up chests indicating there were none to come anywhere near to beating them. World cricket has been dominated for close to a decade in so overwhelming manner by the Australians that even in their own country there have been calls to put a stop to this one-sided nature of contests involving their team in the overall interest of the game at the international level. And it was obvious that the team that can do so should carry a big amount of self-belief in themselves to upset the Australians.

And to their immense credit the Ganguly-led Indians have shown that they have imbibed a never-say-die attitude because of which they could stage an astonishing comeback against overwhelming odds at the city of churches. Facing a total in excess of 550, then reduced to 85 for 4 and then storming their way to the finish line ahead of the fancied opponents, and that too in the latter’s backyard. It really needs talent and guts, which the Indians had in plenty.

And the men to be admired for stimulating this fantastic fight-back are Rahul Dravid and V.V. S. Laxman. This duo has shown understanding beyond the normal Test batting combines. The two truly laid the foundation of the fitting Indian rejoinder to the Australian task in the first innings and kept the team afloat.

It took 22 years in coming, a victory over the mighty Australians in their own backyard. There were several significant things in India’s point of view from this historic win.

The Indians’ victory should have opened the eyes of the Australian selectors. Their bowling attack, in the absence of the ageing Glenn McGrath and the fiery Brett Lee, looked well short of the top class that it has often exhibited in the past. But that can’t take away the achievement of the Indians. With a similar second-string attack, the Australians had outplayed the Indians in the Tri-series in India a couple of months ago.

Many a team has come a cropper against teasing targets but this Indian team is different. The team has been forged like steel from the spirit of unity it rediscovered in the World Cup last year in South Africa. It is apparent that Ganguly and his men have been mentally prepared for this tour and have done their home work. They are bearing the fruits of their hard work.

The bold, confident Indian team riding a tidal wave of success thanks to the feats of Dravid, Laxman and Agarkar is a new phenomenon. The upheaval in Adelaide is not a first-of-its-kind revolution. It has happened before in cricket, and it will happen again.

There are lessons to be learnt as well from this victory as much as there are to be learnt from Australia’s loss. And the lessons of success are tougher to learn than the latter. While failures force one into introspection, success offers a comforting everything-is-perfect feeling.

India’s victory is terrific for the game. The significance is what it will do for Indian cricket. By their epic victory, the Indians have demonstrated they have the gumption to legitimately challenge Australia for Test match supremacy. The win has instantly enriched cricket lore and provided Indo-Australia cricket with the fillip it has long needed. The present team has exceptionally strong personal bonds and is united in spirit, purpose and ambition.

The days when India could be considered a light touch outside the sub-continent are coming to an end, because this brave and memorable victory against the best side in the world was achieved entirely on merit. The support staff of the Indian team also needs praise. The back-up to the team includes a coach from New Zealand, a South African physiotherapist and a fitness trainer and bowling coach from Australia. Fielding is no longer an embarrassment. The victory has proved one thing for sure. The days of easy ride for the Australians are over. Now that India has provided a model of how to beat Australia, other teams will try and storm the fortress. A solitary Test victory against the world champions does not turn India into a world champion. To be called a great side, it has some way to go uphill.