Team India's success mantra: Live and let play

Three players who returned to Tests after varying gaps, from more than 13 months to eight months, have made their performances count in India's biggest victory here in the second Test against Sri Lanka on Monday. However, the trio is not sure if they will be in the playing XI for the next match.

Despite their performances, the trio of opener Murali Vijay, No. 6 Rohit Sharma and pacer Ishant Sharma are all aware of the changing trend in the Indian team as they head into second Test starting in New Delhi on December 2. And they have taken it in their stride.

Gone are the days when players cemented their spots for months together with one good knock or a meaningful spell. The culture in the current Indian team under Virat Kohli is that players are picked according to the conditions and not necessarily on their last performance.

When Bhuvneshwar Kumar took five wickets in the first innings to hasten the New Zealand batsmen's retreat into the dressing room in the Kolkata Test in September 2016, he had to wait for another four Tests before getting a game.

This time in Nagpur, Ishant bowled brilliantly on the opening and closing days to pick up three and two wickets, respectively, rarely erring in line and lengths. The lanky pacer has been in good rhythm, thanks to the think-tank's decision to send him to Ranji Trophy to get some overs behind him rather than warm the bench when he is not in the Test 11.

Opener Murali Vijay has been unfortunate in being relegated from first choice to third option among openers for no fault of his. Yet, when he got the chance at the expense of unavailable Shikhar Dhawan, he carved a marvellous, typical Vijay knock to score 128.

And, Rohit Sharma, lucky to get a game after Md Shami pulled out due to a niggle, made it count with a classic unbeaten 102, his third Test century, and first in 20 Tests and 35 innings. The pressure was on him to score on his return since missing out on 14 Tests due to his knee injury that resulted in surgery late last year.

When the opportunity presents itself to the current players, they grab it with both hands and make it count. There appears to be no jealousy among the players. Kohli has ensured that there is no room for insecurity and that the dressing room is a accomodating of each other.

Ask Rohit about the possibility of having to pave way for a fifth bowler in New Delhi, and he says: "The most important thing when you get an opportunity is that you have to be more than ready, not just ready to play the game and deliver the goods what your coach, captain and the team expect from you.

"Every member of the side completely understands that whatever decisions the support staff make, they are in favour of the team."

This sentiment is echoed by Delhi pacer Ishant, who will have to be the fourth pacer when India tours South Africa next month. He was all praise for the others that form India's pace battery.

"The way Umesh and Shami have bowled, they deserved to get the chance before me. I think at the moment, that's what matters. It's a pretty good competition among fast bowlers in India. We have to take wickets whenever we get the chance to perform. We have to be on our toes."

Murali Vijay said he doesn't feel he has been shortchanged and rather appears to be comforable in his shoes and his position in the scheme of things in the Indian team.

Murali Vijay said, "I am happy and comfortable in my space, that's all I wanted to be and if I am able to achieve that on a consistent basis, I think I am doing a good job. Playing for India is difficult and whoever gets a chance, I wish them luck. I know how difficult it is to be in that space and perform.

"Whoever gets a chance should perform."

Rohit, the skipper

• Rohit Sharma has matured as cricketer and it has a lot to do with leading Mumbai Indians to three titles in IPL in the last five editions.
• While being a regular in limited-overs formats as an opener, and even elevated to vice-captaincy in Sri Lanka earlier this year, the 30-year-old Mumbaikar will lead the country for the first time in Kohli's absence in the ODIs against Sri Lanka next month. The right-hander does not regret having played only so few Tests – 22 Tests since debut.
• Rohit said, "I'm not someone who will think about what has happened in the past. I like to see what is in front of me. I've passed that age where I shouldn't be thinking what happened in the past. I should be ready for what is coming next, because that's what matters.
• "For me, I can change things looking forward, and looking forward is Delhi Test match and thereafter one-day series and then the South Africa series."