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India in South Africa: (Nov 2001)
© AFP |
Another poor showing in alien conditions was effectively
masked by a controversy that led to the third 'Test' being declared
unofficial by the ICC. Although some pluses emerged from the tour, such
as the bowling of Javagal Srinath and the discoveries of Deep Dasgupta
and Virender Sehwag, South Africa overwhelmed the visitors with clinical
efficiency to win two matches out of the three played.
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Summer Spice Series - South Africa:
(Oct 2001)
 © AFP |
India were always favourites to slog it out in the finals with
South Africa, but a league match loss to minnows Kenya placed them in
the familiar position of having to win their last match to enter the
final. They did so, but were comprehensively beaten by South Africa in
the title clash, a result that was not wholly unexpected despite, the
fine form of Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly.
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India in Sri Lanka: (Aug-Sep 2001)
 © AFP |
Missing Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble and VVS
Laxman, India took on a young and inspired Sri Lankan side at home. They
even looked to make a fight of it by winning the second Test and tying
the series, but Muttiah Muralitharan's magic proved too much to resist.
Taking 23 wickets in the series, the star off-spinner sealed the result
at Colombo with match figures of 11-196.
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Coca Cola Cup - Sri Lanka: (Jul-Aug 2001)
 © AFP |
Still rankling from the final defeat in one
Coca Cola Cup, India ran into another in Sri Lanka. The home side were
always favourites to canter through the round-robin, and it was left to
India and New Zealand to fight it out for the other slot. A late surge
from the Indian youngsters saw their side scrape through, but they could
not prevent a crushing 121-run loss to Sanath Jayasuriya's men in the
title clash.
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India in Zimbabwe: (May-Jun 2001)
 © CricInfo |
Although they achieved one notable feat - a Test win
outside the subcontinent - the Indian team was not able to go for the
kill and achieve a second - a Test series win outside the subcontinent.
Winning the first Test handily, India were thwarted by some of the
lesser lights of Zimbabwe cricket, who combined to win the second match
and draw the series.
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Coca Cola Cup - Zimbabwe: (Jun-Jul 2001)
 © CricInfo |
Dominating throughout the league stages of the
Coca Cola Cup, India were the victims of finals jitters; that cost them
the Coca Cola Cup. With star batsman Sachin Tendulkar in particular in
fine fettle, India ran roughshod over a weak West Indies and a weaker
Zimbabwe in the round-robin, but failed to click on the day of the final
against the Caribbean cricketers.
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Australia in India: (Feb-Mar 2001)
 © CricInfo |
One of the most exciting and dramatic in recent
memory, the series saw India end Australia's record winning streak and
deny Steve Waugh's men the satisfaction of that most elusive of
achievements - a series win in India. Coming back from a loss in the
first match and following on in the second, Sourav Ganguly's team, and
VVS Laxman and Harbhajan Singh in particular, were the architects of an
upset that will shine brightly in the annals of cricket.
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England in India: (Nov-Feb 2001)
 © CricInfo |
India won the series after winning the first Test at Mohali but the second and third Test, though drawn, saw England have the better of the exchanges. Nasser Hussain was brilliant as a captain and played a significant role in ensuring that his inexperienced team proved almost every pundit wrong. Probably the most significant event for India was Anil Kumble claiming his 300th wicket in Tests at Bangalore.
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