India’s  10-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first Test is being hailed in some quarters as an outstanding effort as it indicates that the team has given itself a very good chance of becoming the top Test nation very soon. When this happens it is, of course, deserving of praise for the present team under the leadership of Mahendra Singh Dhoni seems to be achieving the sort of heights one could never have envisaged.

It is being asked if Dhoni has that magic touch which seems to give his captaincy something his predecessors never had. There is a school of thought which is inclined to dismiss his successes as luck, which surely does not make sense. Of course, luck is an important ingredient for success, but then luck alone cannot bring about such amazing consistency.

Till Dhoni stumbles and gets on to a losing streak, his captaincy and man management would be discussed. But in this context it has to be the victory, and the manner in which it was achieved, that should be focused upon. Now, it would be soon forgotten that India had New Zealand down to 91 for six in the first innings and then allowed the home team to recover to a very respectable score. This was possible entirely due to centuries by two lower order batsmen, including the captain, Daniel Vettori (his first).

The home team being well aware of the high quality of the pitch did expect the strong Indian batting to reply substantially, which happened. Tendulkar went on to make his 42nd century and it would have been one of his less difficult efforts against bowling that had no worthwhile quality whatsoever. In fact, the home team must have been happy that Sehwag was run out, otherwise it would have been sent on a leather hunt by the Delhi mauler.

Whatever the New Zealand coach Andy Moles might have to say about the Indian team needing to be prepared for a backlash, he is talking in hope. If Dhoni’s  team does not make a clean sweep of the rubber, as predicted by former Indian stalwarts, Chandu Borde and Erapalli Prasanna, it would be disappointing. One cannot remember a weaker New Zealand side for many years.