Becoming world number one in Tests will be justified when India will win more matches overseas, Sanjay Manjrekar tells Mobile ESPN.

By Faisal Kamal

More than 77 years after India began playing Test cricket, MS Dhoni and company have reached the summit of Test rankings overtaking South Africa. India hammered Sri Lanka at Brabourne by an innings and 24 runs to clinch the three-match series 2-0.

Former Test batsman Sanjay Manjrekar is raving about the Indian achievement but only with a word of caution.

Praising Dhoni’s men for the great achievement, Manjrekar believes that it’s important for India to hold on to the numero uno spot. “Obviously retaining the No. 1 position is tougher than reaching that position. I think finally people would start accepting India as top side when they start winning Test matches in Australia and South Africa.

“That can only happen if you can replicate what West Indies did in the 80s and Australia did in the 90s and later. May be an era that India can make their own in the next 10-15 years,” said Manjrekar after India’s triumph in Mumbai on Sunday.

Sri Lanka started off well by drawing the Ahemdabad Test but India outplayed the visitors in Kanpur and Mumbai. Manjrekar is surprised at how tamely Kumar Sangakkara and company went down.

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 “When Lanka came to India they looked like a very strong team and perhaps the best Lankan team to have visited India. But India have emerged as a far superior side in the course of the series. The 2-0 result was unexpected at the start,” Manjrekar said.

Manjrekar is all praise for Virender Sehwag, who emerged Man of the Series for his 491 runs that included a 293 at Brabourne. “Sehwag to me is a great batsman of the modern era. The Mumbai-knock is a reminder that we accept Sehwag as a great batsman.

“People call him the greatest entertainer, people call him a wonderful stroke-maker, talented batsman but great is a tag that not too many cricket pundits give him. But I think it is time that he gets his due and he has every right to carry the crown of a great batsman.”

Manjrekar now wants India’s fans to enjoy the moment.

“The achievement is a reward for all the fans that have followed the Indian team over the years. There was a time when India were struggling to make a mark at the international level. And even though India did well at home, they struggled overseas. But now with a consistent performance over a prolonged period, Team India have surely won over fans to attain a position well deserved.”