India - the batting powerhouse

Virat Kohli

For the past six or seven months the Indian batting has been scoring or chasing runs with incredible confidence. In ODIs the Indian team has had the likes of Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar (the first man to score a double ton in ODIs), Laxman, Virender Sehwag and others but the youngsters these days are able to chase down the scores with far greater panache and ease. Shikhar Dhawan, who scored a ton on his Test debut and then followed that up with scoring plenty of centuries in ODIs, Virat Kohli, who is a special talent and has been instrumental in chasing big scores, Raina, an attacking batsman, Yuvraj, an explosive player, and Dhoni, a great finisher – they have all contributed to making the Indian team a batting powerhouse. The Indian team has the record of chasing 300+ total 13 times. I think these batsman know how to change gears and make a match out of any game, even if it seems to be slipping.

The recent form of Virat Kohli has been superb; in this year he has scored over 1,000 runs with some match winning innings. Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma’s opening partnership has laid a good foundation for the explosive players to score runs at quick pace. If early wickets fall, MS Dhoni, the captian of the Indian team, can play solidly and at the end can even hit the helicopter shots which go the distance. In 2012, when India had to chase 320 in 40 overs, Kohli made easy work of the target and chased it in 36.2 overs. Another instance of India’s batting power is when India had to chase 340 in 50 overs, and Kohli played a great knock of 183. I think the change of rules is helping the batsmen.

In the current Aussies series the Indian batting team has chased 350+ target twice. In these two innings Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Dhawan were the main scorers. This shows that the batting depth of this Indian team is so strong that the opposition team cannot relax until they get the top 6 out.

Dhoni is a match-winning player who is really good at chasing targets. The attitude of the Indian team has changed completely – 5 to 6 years ago when the opposition team scored 350+ the Indian team would think that the match is over, but nowadays the youngsters think that any score is chasable. The Test match batting has also changed.

Shikhar Dhwan’s batting ability is special, scoring quick-fire centuries especially when the team requires them. In a List A match scoring 287 runs is great achievement, which Dhawan has accomplished. And ever since Rohit Sharma has moved into the opening position, he too has succeeded greatly. I think India deserves the number 1 ranking in ODIs.

The main problem of the team is the bowling, leaking runs by the buckets, but the Indian batting powerhouse has the confidence to chase down big scores. This team has taken batting to a different level. Brilliant, with the ability to tackle the opposition bowlers, without any negative thoughts; self-confidence is the most special quality in this team.

The Indian team has won 4 consecutive series in trying circumstances – in England where nobody thought that this team could win, against England in India 3-2, the tri-series in West Indies, and in Zimbabwe.

This team is really different from the other teams. I think the next best to India is West Indies who have Gayle, Bravo and Pollard. I think if they keep playing like this, the Indian team can win the 2015 World Cup.