India's second successive victory in the NatWest series, in front of a passionate and vociferous crowd at the Oval, was heavily tinged with youthful exuberance. Ajit Agarkar and Zaheer Khan had the Sri Lankan batsmen hopping once the ball had lost its first coat of lacquer and Mohammad Kaif and Yuvraj Singh were confidence and poise personified in leading the side home after an almighty wobble in the middle of the innings. The youth brigade haven't merely added fleetness of foot and freshness in the field; they have given the side a brash – almost cocky at times – confidence that is so much an integral part of the makeup of a winning side.

When Sachin Tendulkar departed with India still 68 short of victory, supporters could have been forgiven for fearing the worst. India's record chasing even modest targets doesn't inspire confidence and the two men at the crease, Yuvraj and Kaif, had just 42 years and 46 one-day international caps between them. But try as Sri Lanka did, and Nuwan Zoysa and Dilhara Fernando certainly gave it a real fling, they could do nothing to perturb them. For once, Yuvraj had to play second fiddle as Kaif decided that he could literally pull India past the target. Both men picked off the runs with Michael Bevan-esque efficiency as Sri Lanka's brave fightback ended with a flurry of hits to the rope.

The hard work though had been done much earlier, with Agarkar very much the central figure. Sri Lanka had flown out of the blocks but once Romesh Kaluwitharana flirted with a delivery that was leaving him outside the off stump, India were the masters of their destiny. Agarkar is as good bowling with a slightly roughed-up ball as he is inept with the new one and the team management belatedly realised that. He can swing the ball late and is nippy enough to worry batsmen on a track that has pace and bounce. Zaheer Khan too came back strongly after being mauled early on by Jayasuriya's blacksmith forearms.

Ashish Nehra, bizarrely left out at Lord's yesterday, was the tourniquet - choking the runs at one end, while the other two picked up the wickets – and for once, India's pace attack had a bite that could really hurt the opposition.

Despite the fact that they had to play two matches back-to-back, the presence of so many young faces meant that India weren't slack or tired in the field. Kaif was superb prowling the covers and Yuvraj continues to impress at point. At the end of the day though, top level sport is played out largely in the head and the last two matches have shown that India seem to have learnt that lesson. No amount of talent can win you games in the absence of iron will, and how appropriate that India gave us an exhibition of that on the day when Ronaldo and Brazil staged the greatest resurrection in recent sporting memory.

Dileep Premachandran is assistant editor of Wisden.com in India.

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