When numbers lie!

4-1 read the score line! India lost a test series in England, Again! It hurt even more because it was thought of India's best chance to win, with an enviable pace battery and star studded batting line up.

4-1 really does look bad on paper. And as in life ( so in Cricket) we are obsessed with results. That’s why we are missing something so significant here. This was not just any test series, 'it was a celebration of red ball cricket' to quote Harsha. These test matches actually resembled a boxing ring. Blows were exchanged, one by one. Both Teams fell down, got up and gave it back hard to the opponent! Bruised? Yes!! Finished? Never!

For me the series was in fact a 'celebration of life'. It has given me clarity, busted a lot of myths and took me back to basics.

First and foremost, life is unpredictable. Let's face it. Even if you put in all your efforts, you might still end up 4-1 down. Luck does exist. Otherwise what else explains Kohli losing the toss everytime. What explains rain Gods favouring the home team at Lords?!

Next very important thing I was reminded of, is a person, a team or anyone is worth its salt only when they are thoroughly tested. This is the character Kohli talks about in press conferences. Everyone was exposed in these testing conditions from Cook to Kohli to Dhawan to Rahul to Butler. Some fought their way through, some bit the dust ( Vijay and Karthik)

20 year old Sam Curran showed me what belief can do. When the chips were down, when all other stalwarts were back in the hut, this young man put up a series defining resistance.

Kohli's story exemplifies that life always always gives you a second chance. His last tour was miserable to say the least. He had been branded a flat track bully and many questioned his abilities. In came the man and buried the ghosts of the past. He went on to become the highest run scorer where even the likes of Root and Cook struggled. Some statement.

Pujara and Sir Jadeja taught me, you can be down but never out. Jadeja came in to bat in a dire situation and yet did a heroic rescue act. After the fifty, he dusted off his sword and did his usual jig, announcing his return!

While the young guns KL and Pant reiterated the common cliche ' nothing is over till it's over'. They battled hard, almost turning the game on its head. And their intent of trying to chase down the humungous target inspite of being 3-1 down speaks volumes of their character.

Cook's farewell test makes me believe in fairytales even now! I love him because he is an example of how great things can be achieved even with limited abilities, if you are mentally strong. Cooky also taught me it's very important to be a good human being first rather just a success story.

Jimmy makes me believe magic is real. He made the ball talk! The ball just followed his instructions to the point. Many balls he bowled swung in the air first, kissed the pitch, then seamed and wobbled en route to Bairstow! If this is not magic, what is? He is a role model how every one of us should try to be, to master our work. 564 wickets is just a by product, what matters is his art!

Teary eyed Jimmy while talking about Cook made me realise how important it is to be humane.

Something really really significant I learnt is that it's not about individuals , it's about the team. It's about the game. We individuals are very insignificant in the scheme of things. This is very difficult to fathom for people who grew up watching Sachin bat. In our times, it was simple. Sachin out? Either switch off the TV or break it! ( I have done both!). But KL and Pant have put an end to this mentality.

Finally, I think life is nothing but a bundle of moments, which no result , no scorecard can capture in its entirety. I don't believe the series was just 4-1. I believe it was resurrection of king Kohli, discovery of Indian pace battery, arrival of Pant, KL, Hanuman Vihari and Sam Curran, steely resolve of Butler, 564th for Jimmy, and Farewell to Cook!