Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul Haq started the final day in the third Test frowning. After all, he felt he was denied two early wickets -- those of Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag.
Gambhir, yet to add to his overnight score of 19, clearly got a nick to a delivery from Abdul Razzaq and was caught behind in the second over of the morning, but umpire Simon Taufel thought otherwise.
| |||||||||||
Inzamam was distraught. Perhaps, he felt his chances of pulling off victory were jolted.
But as they day progressed, you could see a smile on his face; it kept broadening as India's famed batting line-up collapsed like a deck of cards.
"We were hoping to take at least two to three wickets in the first session but were a bit unlucky and could manage only one," he said, adding, "but then the bowlers came back really well and we could finish off the Indian innings."
The 35-year-old captain who is the first Pakistan captain to lead the team to victory in his 100th Test was all the more ecstatic because his century (184) in the first innings paved the way for a huge total.
"This was definitely a special match for me. I scored a century and then we won the game.
"I'm a very happy man."
Inzamam attributed the success to hard work by his boys.
"The boys showed tremendous character after losing the second Test in Kolkata; especially Younis [Khan], Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Sami and Shahid Afridi.
"This win is a tribute to their hard work," he said.
The first Test at Mohali ended in a draw after the Pakistan batsmen fought with their backs to the wall, while India won the second in Kolkata by 195 runs.
"This was a crucial game. We knew we had to go all out. I was going to the bowlers and talking to them. It all worked out for us."
India skipper Sourav Ganguly was quick to admit that the defensive approach cost his team the match.
After a promising start that saw openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir put on 87 runs, India lost nine wickets in the last two sessions and were bundled out for 214.
"With just one wicket down at lunch we did not think we will lose nine wickets. But we were a bit too defensive after lunch. The Pakistan bowlers did a very good job."
Ganguly said the pitch was good even on the last day.
"It was a bit up and down but that is expected on the fifth and final day, but it was surely not unplayable."
Man of the series Virender Sehwag, who scored 201 in the first innings, was disappointed with the outcome of the Test.
"Individual performances do not matter if the team goes down.
"In my mind I was going for the target (383). I was playing well but was unfortunate to be run out."
He added that the wicket was easy provided batsmen were willing to play their natural game.
More from rediff