In a press conference after the Bangalore test, Zaheer Khan came out swinging and declared the Australian team as overtly defensive. It sounded a little bit premature because Aussies had the upper hand in the Bangalore test. India continued to called them defensive after the Mohali test–no problems there at all. Clearly, Mohali was a thumping Aussies are not likely to forget in a hurry.

Now, second day into the third test, the gentle VVS Laxman, again called them defensive.And he even fingered Ricky Ponting.

Now, Khan is naturally aggressive but it would have taken some coaxing to get Laxman into the fighting mode. It seems to suggest there is some method to the madness. Ask the standout performer of the day/test to speak to the media (Khan played a brilliant hand in Bangalore; and Laxman was speaking after playing the kind of dreamy innings which he reserves for Aussies), and finger the Aussies in one aspect of their game they cherish above all: aggressiveness. It certainly helps that India has been the better team over the last few tests the two teams have played, but getting under their skin still helps.

Its hard to say if this was the reason why Hayden and Katich came out swinging in the second innings of the Mohali Test and consequently self-destructed. But still, it’s nice to see India playing some smart mind games (I have never been a fan of the kind of street-thuggery players of both sides occasionally display) and come out on top.

India beating Australia in tests is not completely unexpected but for those of us who have been around for some time and still remember India’s massive defeats. it is still a great feeling. But India beating the Aussies in mindgames is absolutely delicious.

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