da pinup bet： A day after the comprehensive eight-wicket win against Zimbabwe in thefirst Test, every member of the Indian cricket team was savouringIndia’s first Test victory outside the sub-continent in 15 years whichhad a different significance for each of
11-Jun-2001A day after the comprehensive eight-wicket win against Zimbabwe in thefirst Test, every member of the Indian cricket team was savouringIndia’s first Test victory outside the sub-continent in 15 years whichhad a different significance for each of them.For the senior members of the team like Sachin Tendulkar and JavagalSrinath, who have been in international cricket for a number of yearsnow, the win hasn’t come a day too early.”It is very thrilling. I hope it starts from here,” said Tendulkar whoplayed a major role in the victory with knocks of 74 and 36 not out inthe two innings. “I would not like to compare it with any other Testwin. But the boys are sticking together and it is a great sign. I hopeit stays this way,” he said.Srinath, who took four wickets in the match, was more sombre. “Thiswin was overdue. It was time we succeeded. We lost out on winningquite a few close games in the last few years. It is time we make upfor those lost opportunities.”For Sourav Ganguly this was the fifth Test win in seven matches ascaptain and the stylish left-hander was obviously jubilant and echoedSrinath’s views.”There were occasions in the past when we came quite close to winning.There are so many Tests I can remember. There was one in Johannesburg,then Barbados, Wellington. Indeed Barbados was the saddest. We neededjust 120 runs to win the game and couldn’t do it,” he said trying toput the victory in proper perspective.Vice-captain Rahul Dravid was cautious in his hour of joy. “I am veryhappy at the moment. But there is still a lot of cricket to be playedin the next one year. We have to keep our feet on the ground.”For the younger lot, the victory was a continuation of thecelebrations that started with the stunning series win againstAustralia back home.Wicket-keeper Samir Dighe, who came up with another determined battingdisplay following his match-winning performance in the Chennai Testagainst the Australians, was very happy that he could contributetowards India’s win.”I am very fortunate that I have played two Tests so far and India haswon both the games. It is a great satisfaction that I could play arole in the victory,” Dighe, who made 47 runs in the first innings,said.Similarly, Harbhajan Singh, hero of the series win against Australia,made a fine contribution both with bat and ball. “I am happy I am amember of this team,” was all that he could say.Having won the match inside four days, the Indians could afford torelax today. Even coach John Wright, the hard taskmaster that he is,had no objections. “They have earned a break,” he said.The Indians declined an offer of a safari from Zimbabwe captain HeathStreak who also invited them to visit his farmhouse in the afternoonand were more keen to catch the evening flight for Harare where thesecond Test starts on Thursday.The Indians had a joint dinner at the hotel restaurant last eveningand the celebrations continued late into the night. The secretary ofthe Board of Control for Cricket in India Jaywant Lele was the firstone to call up and congratulate the team for its fine performance.However, amidst all the partying the team was well aware that the winwas just a start and the Indians had a hectic schedule abroad for therest of the year during which they need to continue the good work.”There is still a lot of cricket left in this tour and then over thenext one year. We must retain our focus,” Tendulkar said.Srinath said the task was only half over. “We must not forget there isstill a Test left in this series. We must not lose our overallobjective in this moment of victory – and that is to win the series2-0.”A final note of caution came from team manager Chetan Chauhan. “Wecan’t afford to be complacent. The Zimbabweans have it in them tobounce back.”