India hockey's sunny days extended from Incheon a month ago to Perth on Sunday with a series win over world champions Australia - something not many envisioned when the team left for the four-Test series.
India rallied from losing the first game 0-4 to win the next three (2-1, 1-0 and 3-1) to clinch the series 3-1, impressing their former coach Michael Nobbs who watched his ex-wards from close quarters at home in Australia.
"A great result for India in its first series win over Australia in many years. This team has been building over the last 3-1/2 years and is now starting to show that it's ready to emerge from the shadows of its past failures," Nobbs told IBNLive Sports.
"This team has announced its presence on the world stage. To beat the number-one ranked team in the world is not an easy job," Nobbs added.
However, the Australian cautioned India to not get a hangover with this win - since the Aussies rested quite a few seniors, including Jamie Dwyer and Mark Knowles, for the series.
"Now let's not get too far ahead. Australia had 13 senior members not available, but it does show India continues to improve and Australia has not," he said.
Nobbs also cautioned the Kookaburas to take note of the work to do at the junior level.
"Below Australia's top players, there is a lot of work to do or they may find themselves slipping from the top of their pedestal. Congratulations to Sardar and his team," he signed off.
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