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Saad's avatar

Beautifully written set of articles, Sarthak. Looking at it from across the border, we were expecting the Aussie juggernaut to keep on rolling mercilessly. But then something murmured in Kolkata. Laxman delivered well beyond any promise we'd seen in him in '99. The wiry Harbhajan got the ball spitting up and biting at the hard-nosed Aussies. And the crescendo built, all the way to that last ball at Chepauk, and beyond to the final at Lord's.

I'm happy I witnessed all this, the slumbering giant finally waking up and claiming its destiny. Part of me though is disgusted by how that confidence and self-assuredness has morphed into arrogance, so that a neighbour who would willingly root you on against the empire finds it hard now to tell them apart. Khair, we'll always have these memories.

PS: don't think Dennis Lillee has "passed away"

Sarthak Dev's avatar

Thank you so much for reading, Saad! And such incredible memories of the time. And that solidarity across South Asia is completely lost, sadly.

Thanks for the catch! Embarrassing error, but fixed it now xD

Ashish Chatterjee's avatar

Oh man, I knew how it ended, and yet I was on tenterhooks. Written like a thriller....

Sarthak Dev's avatar

Thank you!

Renuka's avatar

It's wonderful to read it. Masterful in show, not tell. Thank you.

Sarthak Dev's avatar

Thank you, Renuka :)

Sudhanshu Dikshit's avatar

Whatta smashing and fitting piece to a smashing series, and reminder, why test cricket reigns supreme :)

Sarthak Dev's avatar

Thank you, Sudhanshu! And indeed :)