Thread by @NorthStandGang

If you are a 90s kid, you’ve seen everything in Indian cricket. Start & End of SRT, Match-fixing, some embarrassing displays in England & Australia, some individual heroics & some deserving team wins. You’ve seen Dravid grind it out, you’ve also seen 81 all out (1/n)

If you are a 90s kid, you are mentally tough. You expect your team to put up a fight, more often than not, you ended up in disappointment. You’ve digested everything. You’ve laughed & cried. Sometimes both at same time (remember Perth ‘08). Too much depends on Tendulkar you’d say

Now you are in your late 20s early 30s. You see your team travelling to Australia. Kohli is leaving early after embarrassing Adelaide loss. Injuries are in bucketful. Covid restrictions mean they have to struggle for an XI. You write off your team mentally before Boxing Day Test

Rahane is captain now. He’s known for his silent aggression & counterattacking play. Pujara, Ashwin, Bumrah stand up with him, they create magic. India win Boxing Day test convincingly to shun off 4-0 critics (you loved this as a 90s kid, dont you). Yes, Gill is born!

1-1 & its Sydney. Media tries to play games. You’ve seen this before. But this is new India! They are determined. Bowlers get us back in the game & well, India tries to win, later save the match. Enough has been documented on Vihari & Ashwin. Stuff of legends! Momentum: India

Still 1-1. Gabba record plays till it wears out for Media. India playing with “Net bowlers” make it difficult for Australia. Later, these net bowlers bring down Aussies to knees with bat. You see in disbelief. This is not the India you’ve grown up watching

Net bowlers again bundle up Aussies, only handful of times Gabba has seen 20 Aussie wickets. Batting time. To save the match, retain BGT. Rightly so. This series has been hard fought, bruises, sweat & even blood are witness. India’s B team has won many mini battles in this series

Then comes the finale, last few overs, last throw of dice. Pant, dropped for 1st Test, fell in Sydney after raising hopes, is the man! Hits that 4 & seizes moment, match & series. India wins 2-1, with B team of champions! Gabba is breached by players who were written off by all!

Some of you might have kids, as able parents, you should tell them a story, a story of Test Cricket & a story of New India, which starts from Tendulkar carrying burden of nation & ends with Natarajan carrying burden of bruised bowling attack & winning Test Series in Australia :)