Powering to the top

India's victory by an innings and 144 runs against Sri Lanka in the second Test of their three-Test series at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur last week was their 100th Test victory and their third-biggest in Tests (among innings wins).

The century has taken a long time - a span of 57 years and 432 Tests - and they were the sixth country to do so after Australia (in 199 Tests), England (241), West Indies (266), South Africa (310) and Pakistan (320) in that order. India's previous best against their neighbours was a victory by an innings and 119 runs in 1994.

India's relatively slow journey is largely because they gathered the momentum only in this decade winning 39 out of 102 matches, a healthy 38 per cent. It's more than double their winning percentage in all the other decades put together - before 2000 India had won 61 out of 330, or 18.48 per cent. The new millennium is also the first time India has won more Tests than they've lost in a decade - their win-loss ratio is 1.44.

There was one remarkable similarity between their first Test victory in 1952 and their 100th: Celebrations were restrained - 'subdued', as Wisden reported of the first instance - on both occasions. Back in the fifties that was a sign as much of the times as of India's status as minnows - Vijay Hazare's team was not expected to surprise Donald Carr's side to level the five-Test rubber in Madras. More than half a century later, India rank as one of the more consistent sides in world cricket and there were no pretensions about their comprehensive win over Sri Lanka in Kanpur.

One possible reason for the restraint is that this Indian team is finally getting used to winning. Through this decade, India have moved steadily towards the top of the table under spirited leaders like Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble and now Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Their approach encouraged team-mates to express themselves clearly. At the same time every player got his own space and subsequently the dressing-room environment has become more positive and transparent.

The effects were evident in the performance of Sreesanth in Kanpur. He walked into the team from the cold, a discard with a dodgy temperament. His 19-month spell in the wilderness taught him patience and fired his hunger; he reined in his wild side and focussed instead on bowling good balls consistently while working batsmen out. "He played in a different way this Test," a clearly pleased Dhoni said later. "He was aggressive but controlled his emotions. That's what is important."

Dhoni gave the team the perfect start by calling the toss correctly and after that openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir took over. There was an early hiccup which could have turned the complexion of the game - Sehwag was dropped before he had scored.

For Sri Lanka, it was an entirely forgettable game. They've suffered more comprehensive defeats four times, but this is their worst loss against India. Their record in India drops further, to nine defeats and seven draws in 16 Tests. Australia and South Africa are the other countries in which Sri Lanka are yet to win a Test.

The hosts are now favourites to win their fourth straight series as they begin their third and final match of the series today at the Brabourne Stadium, the venue of India's first Test in 1933; if they win there they will take the top spot in the ICC Test rankings.