While the Indian men’s cricket team revels in its victory in the one-day internationals in South Africa, it is time to reflect on attendant facts, including that Indian women – less heralded but as effective – have performed just as well in their bilateral engagements in the same country.

But speaking of the men first, their victory in 50-over encounters is sweet because it comes on the back of a handful of exceptional performances – the captain leading the pack – and not so much because of an overall team effort. Take four and a half players – Rohit Sharma with his propensity to run partners out being the half – out of the equation and India would have struggled against an injury-plagued side that took the field without its regular captain.

Virat Kohli was quite splendid, and so was a vastly underrated Shikhar Dhawan. The two wrist spinners were magical and made up the quartet of star performers until Sharma found some form in the fifth encounter. But India’s middle-order struggled, its opening bowlers looked unlikely to run through a side and the fielding was patchy at best. The series was also remarkable as it saw the near eclipse of Mahendra Singh Dhoni as a batsman who can tear bowlers apart in the final overs, although his wicket-keeping was largely skillful and his reading of the game still sound.

After the tour of South Africa ends later this month, the players will get embroiled in the fun and games of the Indian Premier League. They will then embark on a challenging trip to England where the focus will largely be on the five Tests to be played in the second half of the summer, the period Indians traditionally favour. At the end of the year, the team is scheduled to tour Australia, another challenging assignment. And next year, India will seek to justify its current top-ranking in the 50-over format when it plays for the World Cup in England. These are tough assignments, and there are many lessons to be drawn.

To begin with, India will have to find a way to lessen its dependence on Kohli; form can desert the best batsmen and this team can look ordinary without its leader. Next, its captain will have to find a way to settle down with his first XI. While the horses for courses reasoning has some merit, it does not do to chop and change quite as much as he does for that might have the effect of unsettling players less talented than him.

Finally, India will have to learn to draw up their schedules with greater finesse; who is to say what might have happened had this team played a couple of warm-up games before the Tests in South Africa. But for now, let’s enjoy the moment as the main cricket team takes the winning path shown by the under-19s and the women.