I146;ve never seen such patience

The proceedings of this last Test are going just like my predictions of the last three days. In fact Rahul needs to be credited for exceedin...

The proceedings of this last Test are going just like my predictions of the last three days. In fact Rahul needs to be credited for exceeding my target of 300 runs. Thursday was Rahul and only Rahul; he featured in three century partnerships and came very close in the fourth one with Yuvraj Singh with 98 runs.

When a team has such big partnerships, it cannot help but win the game. I had never seen such patience in my whole career. Rahul is a superb role model for those who want to play for the country, there was only one lofted shot over the head of mid-on to get to 199.

The determination was written large on his face not only to get past his highest Test score 8212; 233 against Australia 8212; but also to ensure that his team gets such a lead so that they don8217;t have to bat again.

I am sure the captain must have been in a dilemma over when to declare 8212; whether he should allow him to get 300 or have more time and overs for his bowlers to get at the tired and exhausted opening pair of Pakistan. The recent controversy created over his own decision in the first Test when he declared at 675 depriving Sachin to get that coveted figure of double hundred, must have goaded him to go for quick runs and get out in the process.

Saurav also batted well for his 70 despite the fact that he was out of the first two Tests and was out of practice. It was his perennial weakness of running between the wickets that was his downfall once again and depriving him of that one more century in Tests.

Pakistan, meanwhile, have got ground into the dust by their neighbours. The bowlers were hammered, the fielders looked completely demoralised, their shoulders drooping. However to be fair to them they were really feeling the absence of Shoaib Akhtar, their main speed weapon in their armoury.

With two wickets gone and two days to go, it is going to be an uphill task for Pakistan to save this Test and save the series. The Indians are on the brink of history. They were in a similar position a few months ago in Australia where they let things slip in the last Test.

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Now, though, they look very confident and thoroughly professional. They will not let it slip this historic victory out of their hands for sure this time.