No praise too high for Team India

India captain Virat Kohli and team mates watch the replay screen for a run out decision against England batsman Ben Stokes during 2nd One Day International between India and England at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. Pic/PTI

Thursday's second ODI result in Pune notwithstanding, it is quite clear that the Indian cricket squad continue to be the team to beat in world cricket. It's not easy to play down euphoria and win handsomely in the next event. The Indians have done so in style against the touring Englishmen in all formats, after the victorious tour of Australia.

The Australian tour would have drained out lesser men but not the current pack. Led by Kohli, one of the most committed of players to wear India colours, and guided by Ravi Shastri, who hasn't quite got the credit he deserves for his role as head coach, this team could end up being spoken of in the same breath as Clive Lloyd's West Indians of the 1970s and 1980s. Even Steve Waugh's all-conquering Australians (1998 to 2004) were similarly formidable.

Yes, we say this despite Test series wins on English and South African soil still proving elusive in the Kohli-Shastri regime. Supporters of Kohli & Co are convinced that it's only a matter of time that both these nations will be conquered in their own dens.

The team have endured a plethora of injuries but the replacement players have made it a point to perform creditably enough to make it hard for the injured to return.
The debutants have shown great determination in making the most of their opportunities; Krunal Pandya and Prasidh Krishna, who debuted in the ongoing ODI series being shining examples.

It's been harder to perform in a bio-secure bubble and for that, the Indian team deserve another scoop of kudos. Yes, they are well paid and the rewards are wholesome, but the sacrifice needed to live in a bubble cannot be discounted.

Meanwhile, it's time to stand up again and applaud just like we did when the Australians were stunned earlier in the year.