If India were told one month ago that on February 26, they would be celebrating a consecutive 17th series win at home, everyone would have had a bitter laugh.
Disillusioned with the absence of Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami and KL Rahul (barring the first Test), fans had little to no hope that India would break the ‘bazball’ shackles.
But as is tradition with the Indian Cricket Team, they sprung yet another surprise, almost Gabba-esque.
Going into the Hyderabad Test, the hosts seem to have an adept combination in place.
However, the Ollie Pope show coupled with Tom Hartley’s mastery, saw India fall flat on their face.
The chants about missing Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami got deafening. At a crossroads, Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid were dealt even major blows come Vizag.
KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja were ruled out of the second Test. As a last resort, Rajat Patidar was handed his debut but the cracks were visible.
And then began the India show sans the regular magicians. Twenty-two-year-old sensation Yashasvi Jaiswal shouldered the responsibility to carry India forward.
He smashed his maiden Test double century, leaving Ben Stokes and Co. whining and gobsmacked.
The second-highest score was Shubman Gill who made a paltry 34, as calls to drop him and an underperforming Shreyas Iyer grew louder.
With hearty contributions from vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah in England’s 1st innings, it seemed India had really learned their toughest lesson in Hyderabad.
Then came a roaring century from Shubman Gill that put him back in the good books of analysts, fans and the ever-trusting team management.
Two youngsters guided India home with all the support from Jasprit Bumrah and others.
The 30-year-old took home the Player of the Match award but the match win belonged to Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill.
With Rajkot came two debuts that really turned the tide of an under-staffed India.
By February 15, it was clear that Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami were not going to make it for the rest of the series and KL Rahul had been ruled out as well.
Pressure mounted on the captain-coach duo of Rohit and Rahul. As substitutes were called in, debuts were inevitable.
After a long-drawn wait, Mumbai talisman Sarfaraz Khan and Rajasthan Royals jewel Dhruv Jurel played their first-ever Test for India.
And what a show they put on! With centuries from seniormost players Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja, India had no struggles in sight.
With a point to prove among India’s best and brightest stars, Khan powered to a 62 off 66, well on his way to his maiden century, till an unfortunate run-out ended his innings.
Khan was followed by Jurel, equally hungry to prove his mettle to the world. A 46-run knock easily took India to a 445.
India’s all-round performance was further solidified with Gabba hero Mohammed Siraj’s 4-fer assisted by Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja.
Then came the ultimate finale, Yashasvi Jaiswal scored a second consecutive double century which was supported by Shubman Gill’s majestic 91 and Sarfaraz Khan’s striking 68.
The Rajkot match, a litmus test, for the next-generation was successful. India seemed like it was in safe, capable hands.
Ranchi was shaping up to be an earthquake of sorts. Shaking up all the confidence India built over the course of the last three outings.
The foundation lay bare, a team constructed on the contributions of the most inexperienced lot.
And Ben Stokes-Baz McCullum thought it alright to exploit the amateur Rohit Sharma-led men.
For a while, they managed to rattle the Indians. Joe ditched ‘bazball’ to go back to his Root(s), score his first hundred in 15 innings.
India were puzzled, perplexed. This time, they were without their speed wizard Jasprit Bumrah too.
Once more, a debutant was the answer to their woes. Bihar boy Akash Deep, having gone through the works to make it to the biggest stage, shocked England with a 3-wicket haul in his opening game.
Far from a debut on the pace pitches of the SENA nations, the speedster jolted the English out of dreamland.
Having conceded 353 runs, the young run machine of India, Yashasvi Jaiswal quickly got to work.
The Rajasthan Royals’ boys Jaiswal and then Jurel bailed India out with a 73 and 90 respectively, even as the rest of the batting order collapsed.
Jurel might have missed his maiden Test century by a margin but the gritty knock was testament to his absolute necessity in the team.
The 4th Test appeared to have been hacked by the visitors, it seemed that Dharamsala would end up being the decider.
India looked in no mood to continue their trend of victories. But Day 3 saw them pull back, analyse and go full throttle on Stokes and Co.
R Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav divided 9 wickets amongst themselves, restricting England’s lead to 192 runs in their second innings.
Led by a determined Rohit Sharma, the Jaiswal-Gill-Jurel trio responsibly took India over the finish line to register a 17th home Test series win.
Though Dharamsala might be a mere formality at this juncture in the series, after the 2020-21 Border Gavaskar Trophy, this series against England symbolizes the transition of India from the seasoned grasp of experience to the dynamic and powerful embrace of youth.
It is a testament to renewal, resilience, and the dawn of a new era, where the young rise to forge their own legacy.
With the hopeful return of Rishabh Pant in sight, and the likes of Sarfaraz, Yashasvi, Shubman and Dhruv cementing their spots, the seniors-shaped hole seems to be filling in perfectly.
The 2023-24 Anthony de Mello Trophy series was the transition, the emergence of the new, the fading of the old and an indication that the Indian Cricket Team’s flame remains ablaze.