When play started today everybody was expecting Kumble to strike the blows for India. Instead, Munaf bowled the most hostile spell of fast bowling I have seen from an Indian fast bowler in India for some time. In fact, he is the only Indian ‘fast’ bowler I have seen in a long time! In the 8 overs he bowled on the trot today, he conceded 15 runs and sent back Jones, Plunkett and Hoggard. He is the find of the season. After a long time, we have a genuine fast bowler who can reverse swing the ball consistently. His bowling today was fantastic and I do not say that lightly. He is fast and accurate - a rare combination for an Indian bowler. He bowls straight and I just love that in fast bowlers. The line he bowls, the yorkers and his pace will all make him handy in ODIs too. We have finally found a bowler who will bowl the slog overs well. Just keep him fit guys!

He surprised Jones by a bouncer and got him to drop the ball onto the stumps ( 116/6). He then swung in a yorker to Plunkett at 90 miles an hour to trap him plumb in front - an absolute beauty that would have got most batsmen of better pedigree ( 124/7). Hoggard was bowled off his toes by a similar ball that was even faster ( 139/8). In 5 overs of hostile bowling Munaf ensured that victory was certain and would arrive quickly.

Kumble then got Harmison, brilliantly stumped by Dhoni ( 181/9). At 179/8, and running out of partners Flintoff had to attack to put up as many on the board as he could. Rahul gave the ball to Piyush Chawla who had bowled only 3 overs in the innings. It would be his best chance to get his first test wicket – crucial for a 17 year old boy playing with battle hardened men. It was a great move – a thinking captain’s move. You do not want one of your most promising bowlers to get demoralized by going wicket less at his test debut. Piyush got Flintoff to sky a sweep to Munaf at deep square leg to end the English innings at 181.

It is too early to judge Piyush Chawla. The boy got a total of 14.1 overs in the whole match! Harbhajan, for comparison, got one dubious wicket in 35 overs. Piyush has potential and will get his chances. Playing alongside Kumble is the best opportunity he will ever get to learn and develop. Harbhajan, though, is well past it and playing only on reputation. It is time to bring a young off spinner through the ranks and I have been saying this for months! Bhajji has no variations and bowls the wrong line as a result. He will not get wickets unless bowling on a minefield. Then, so would my granny!

I feel sorry for Sreesanth because he has done well since his debut, but Munaf is more accurate and possesses greater menace and bite. With R P and VRV Singh also hovering, we have healthy competition, which is just great.

India needed 144 to win. Jaffer looked good for his 17 runs before falling, lbw to Hoggard. He has played well since his comeback. He looks compact and has been good at leaving balls outside off. He drives well and is very strong off the pads. I just wish they had played him in Pakistan, but we all know why that happened!

Sehwag looked totally out of touch early on but settled down to strike a flurry of fours and a six at the end ( 76 n.o.) Rahul was, well, Rahul – untroubled and solid ( 42 n.o.). India won by 9 wickets – a good win considering that almost 2 full days were lost to the weather. Kumble was Man of the Match with 9/146 and a priceless 32 off the bat. Great work, boys.

A word of praise for the groundsmen. They did a phenomenal job in ensuring that the least possible time was lost despite heavy rain. A lot more time would have been lost at any other venue. This pitch is a tribute to test cricket. It had it all – spinners got help at one end and the fast bowlers at the other. The pitch was never a minefield. The bounce was good and true – just look at the starts all the batsmen got. If batsmen played well the runs came and the bowlers were always in with a chance. This outfield is amongst the best in the world. Excellent work all round.

The coffee this morning smells great - it's laced with the aroma of victory. Here's to an encore at Mumbai!