It was a hard-earned and well-deserved victory for India at the Eden on Thursday. Pre-series expectations were that India will clinch it 2-0. But South Africa, through discipline, planning and sheer dedication, managed to draw the first Test in Kanpur and took the second Test to the fifth day.

It?s the first series win for India in India since 2002. The hosts leave for a series in Bangladesh soon, where the Indian batsmen must use the time for some quality batting practice and indulge in some aggressive mode of play. The away tour will take some pressure off the Indians and they can then ruminate on where they have been going wrong in recent times, because all the top six batsmen ? with the exception of Virender Sehwag ? have not achieved much success.

The South Africans surprised. The new coach, Ray Jennings, has made a huge difference. I can?t believe the dramatic change the team has undergone in this short period. They served proudly.

However, they should have come down to the sub-continent with some specialist spinners.

Look at the statistics that the South Africans have generated on their recent sub-continental tours. They were in Sri Lanka in August, and of the two Tests the managed to draw one, losing the other. They lost all the ODIs in that series.

They were in Pakistan September-October last year and of the two Tests, lost one and drew the other. In this instance, though, they won the ODI series 3-2.

What I am trying to say is that to purchase success from sub-continental wickets you need spinners, very good ones. That?s most. South Africa?s Nicky Boje is a decent turner, but he isn?t here for whatever reasons. And the current team is left without a decent spinner. That is not done.

Yet they did chase, more than what was anticipated. Of special mention is, of course, Jacques Kallis, Andrew Hall?s performance in the first Test and Zander de Bruyn. De Bruyn should have made his place in the team for some time to come, I believe.

Harbhajan Singh rightfully deserves the Man of the Match award. His has been a remarkable record in terms of five-wicket hauls and success at the Eden.

Sehwag has been outstanding for quite some time and has been rightly selected as the Man of the Series. His batting is like a breath of fresh air in this Indian line-up where others also need to demonstrate a bit of Sehwag-like aggression.

I have spent a lot of time in this country recently, and there is just one word I am able to say about the cricket here ? intriguing. The Indians? passion for the game does not cease to amaze me and I look forward to coming back to this country soon.