A Jumbo secret behind Team India's success

[Karan114]

A Jumbo secret behind Team India's success K Shriniwas Rao, TNN | Jul 11, 2011, DOMINICA: Just after India had won the Galle Test by 170 runs in 2008 - that saw Virender Sehwag smash a double hundred off 230 balls and Harbhajan Singh pick up a match-haul of 10 wickets - captain Anil Kumble called for a team meeting. Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Gautam Gambhir, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Zaheer Khan were all a part of that team. Kumble found the hour and the need to bring all of them together. And so they met. Harbhajan Singh recollects that evening. "He (Kumble) had a plan that he wanted to share with us. It was a road map to becoming the best team in the world and we were supposed to give ourselves two years to achieve that dream," says the off-spinner. The idea was to plan ahead of just the next immediate series, work out the opposition and distribute the workload. Both Sehwag and Gambhir were returning from injuries then, Ganguly was under pressure to keep his place in the team, Tendulkar and Zaheer were picking and choosing their assignments, Dravid and Laxman were still keeping the Test flag flying high, Dhoni had already taken over as the one-day captain and Kumble was closing in on his retirement. All of them had a common dream binding them and while they were around, Harbhajan says, "the plan was to work towards becoming the best". Australia was due to tour India next, followed by England, Sri Lanka and South Africa. India were scheduled to tour New Zealand, Bangladesh and South Africa during the same time. All of this was listed in India's share of Future Tour Program assignments leading up to 2010 - just before it would be time to prepare for the World Cup. "I still remember when Kumble spoke and everybody listened," says Harbhajan, echoing what Virender Sehwag has also talked about time and again. The best of oppositions would have to be taken upon if the dream was to be achieved. Kumble had made his mind up to hang his boots soon and while he was around, the spinner would play his part in getting there. India won the series at home against Australia, after which Kumble and Ganguly called it a day. Harbhajan remembers how the dream still continued to inspire the team. England and Sri Lanka toured India and were beaten. Bangladesh were also dealt with when India stepped across the border. South Africa would be the big test ahead of the World Cup and until then, this Test team would have to do with small niggles and injuries collected on the way. Harbhajan says "at that time we only focused on what was on hand. Every player knew his responsibility and we always knew there would be enough time to look back and savour what had been achieved." That dream to reach the top and continue there is still on. It won't culminate into something truly successful until the tours of England and Australia are over. India are currently working their way towards sealing the series in West Indies. England will be a tough task, followed by Australia. The players hang on to that meeting in Sri Lanka whenever they need to look back for any inspiration. When you know where you're coming from, it becomes easier to realise where you're headed. That's the case with Team India's ongoing success. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/series-tournaments/india-in-west-indies/top-stories/A-Jumbo-secret-behind-Team-Indias-success/articleshow/9178904.cms

[pensionplan]

What the f***? Kumble spoke and everyone listened. oh ok. Then Harbhajan blurted something and K Shriniwas Rao filled in the blanks with some garbage and we became the No.1 Test team in the world. Very nice indeed. What a piece of trash.

[Cricket Tragic]

Dhoni didn't play the series in 2008 and Dravid was in **** form that year (and the previous year).

[Sid]

SL tour of 2008 was a disastorous test tour.

[punjabi_khota]

^Not for the openers :phehehe: ...they were awesome.

[Sid]

^Yes only they were awesome ,others were ........................:wall:

[Midfielder]

Important thing is Kumble was an inspirational leader who can never be replaced.

[gs]

Kumble is a bowling Colossus -- cant remember how many test Indian test victories could be attributed solely to his performance!! He absolutely decimated the opposition teams in his hey days in the 90s!

[Midfielder]

More than that he is an excellent individual. Always willing to help the young and upcoming players.

[deepak_sach]

Dhoni is more inspirational .

[Sidhoni]

:hatsoff: :hatsoff:

[Temujin Khaghan]

Dhoni, Ganguly.

[maniac]

Kumble's contribution as a captain is under-rated...he took over the team during a often forgotten and ignored crisis when Dravid stepped down from captaincy, Ganguly was fighting for his spot in the team, Sachin didn't want to be the captain and rest of the team was filled with inexperience. He brought a stability and calmness to the team as a leader which made the transition to the long term future which is Dhoni a way smoother task. It was commendabale the way he handled the contreversial 2008 Aus tour and some times I wonder if the calmness that Dhoni exhibits in a crisis may be an inspiration from Anil.I am sure Dhoni is naturally a leader and has all these qualities come to him inherently but to see the way a senior member handled it is always a hands-on lesson.