India's mix of youth, experience too hot for Aussies

Brisbane: India's tour Down Under came to an end on Tuesday after four Test matches, 10 One-Day Internationals and more than two months of controversy and despair.

It all ended with reason to rejoice as India beat world champion Australian in their own backyard to win the Commonwealth Bank Series.

On Tuesday, when Sachin Tendulkar walked off the Gabba in Brisbane after scoring a masterly 91, his bat was raised and his team was appreciative.

Yet again, the Master Blaster had performed a miracle. Even though a century may have eluded him but his performance elevated him to the top in the One-Day International batsmen ranking.

However, it was a day for the individual to be secondary and the team to be all-important.

"I don't want to talk much about my contribution. I think the team, has done well and that is what I value," Tendulkar said after the series win.

India battled the odds all summer as they were targeted by a hostile media and unfriendly crowds but Mahendra Singh Dhoni's outfit refused to cave in. Once victory was pocketed, the Indian skipper had his response ready.

Dhoni took a dig at the Australian media saying, "I don't know what will happen to the Aussie media. Bhajji (Harbhajan Singh) is going back tomorrow. They need someone to replace him. He has been the Michael Jackson here and all the media following him. It was really good to see that but of course it put a lot of pressure on him,"

In the opposition camp; there was despair. Ricky Ponting's men aren't used to losing big finals but now they wonder if the world order is changing. Ponting was gracious in defeat and said India deserved the victory.

"I think all credit has to go to the Indian team. All credit to MS Dhoni and the Indian team for the way they have played. They have certainly outplayed us the two finals and they deserve to go home with the Commonwealth Bank Trophy," Ponting said.

Indian One-Day side started on a scratchy note but gradually things started falling in place. The mixture of experience and youth was too hot to handle for the world champions as India went on to register their first tri-series win in Australia.