India have registered a win in Sri Lanka after 22 years © AFP
The Indian cricket team on Tuesday created history of sorts when they registered their first overseas Test series win, thrashing Sri Lanka by a massive margin of 117 runs in the third and final Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. The highlight of India’s win was not only the team’s all-round performance despite most of the opening day being washed out, but the fact that they bounced back after a humiliating defeat in the opening Test to win the remaining ones. This series win is also India’s first in Sri Lanka in 22 years, as the last time they had won in the island nation was way back in 1993. Scorecard: India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd Test at Colombo (SSC)
India had last won an overseas Test series back in 2011, when they defeated the West Indies in a three-Test series 1-0. India headed to England on the bank of the series win in the Caribbean and in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, but they suffered 0-4 humiliation at the hands of England in a four-Test series and ended up losing their No. 1 ranking as well. READ: Ishant Sharma takes 200th Test wicket on Day 5 of India vs Sri Lanka 2015, 3rd Test at Colombo (SSC)
India then travelled to Australia in late 2011 for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2011-12, and suffered yet another embarrassment. They were blanked 0-4 by Australia, which the Indians later avenged it by slamming their opponents by the same margin.
The year 2014 was the one wherein the team did not play at home. India went to South Africa and lost a two-Test series 1-0, and followed it up with a 1-0 defeat to New Zealand in their backyard. The Indian cricket team then toured England for a marathon five-Test series, but their firepower fizzled out after a historic win in the second Test at Lord’s and they ended up losing the series 3-1.
Towards the end of 2014, India once again went to Australia for a four-Test series. This was the one in which MS Dhoni, their captain in all these series, retired after the third Test at Melbourne. India showed lot of character and intent, but could not prevent a series defeat by a margin of 2-0.