Bravo India! This shows who is stronger | All is fair...

Rock bottom has a good side – the only way out is up. This holds true in life and things more important – like cricket.

The current India-Australia series Down Under has seen it all, from aggression to derision, official incompetence to bravado, and charges and counter-charges, proved or otherwise.

The way the Indian team recovered from it all, most from the off-field fiascos is a testament to their strength of character and inherent Indian-ness, coming through even at the worst of times.

Irrespective of how the Perth Test goes, there is no debate any more on which side has emerged stronger.

India were at the receiving end right through the first half of the series, while the Aussies had the rub of the green. The tide has turned, and the Indians are looking better as people, and frequently as cricketers.DON'T MISS

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The Indians were under the microscope for reasons cricketing and otherwise, right from the first Test in Melbourne.

The on-field performances were pathetic in the first outing, but by the time Sydney came, things had begun to look up, and at one stage, there was a distinct possibility that India may actually draw level.

But that was before Steve Bucknor did his thing.

It was bad enough being denied a draw, or even a win, but that has happened before. What really pushed the Indians into a corner however was not that, but the allegation of racism against Harbhajan Singh.

The problem with this issue was that Bhajji was tried, sentenced and virtually hung on the basis of some statements from the Australian cricketers, without much weight being given to the Indians’ claims.

There was a stark case of being framed, and the team finally decided to react.

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Just as well, since that pushed the BCCI into action, and support came from unlikely sources like the Australian media and people, and soon the plot had shifted, and it was Ricky Ponting and his cohorts who were under the lens.

Anil Kumble led like a giant, from the time he put the blame squarely on Ponting’s shoulders to when he and the side decided to drop the charges against Brad Hogg.

He was the statesman who won admiration from all quarters and his calming effect had magical qualities.

It takes little to break a team’s morale, especially at a hard place like Australia where they are up against it all the while anyway.

It is almost impossible to beat Australia as a team, and to have to deal with the ‘mental disintegration’ and the rest is never easy.

The Indians have done that, and more, and even as the wickets tumble at Perth, the Indian morale rises, while they also reach a high ground morally.

So not bad to be at rock bottom at times. After all, the only way out is up.