For the 90s kid, this is like a Cinderella story. MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli have ensured that Indian fans don’t switch off their TVs after the first wobble in a chase and learn to believe that their team is capable of chasing tough targets.
But, even by those standards – India being one of the most successful teams over the last decade when it comes to chases – this seemed impossible. Virat Kohli’s decision to win the toss and ask England to bat seemed like a blunder when England posted a massive 350. If that didn’t make England feel confident of winning, they would have believed so when India were 63 for 4, with two of the big three, Dhoni and Yuvraj, back in the pavilion.
But as a testimony of India’s bench strength, it was Kedar Jadhav, the local boy, who played the innings of his life to outshine Kohli in a chase.
In the end, India’s 356 for 7 is the fourth highest successful ODI chase. Of the 6 successful chases of 350 and above, India have 3 (South Africa have the top 2, both against Australia) (350 runs or more have been scored in a successful chase 7 times, in one case the target being 347). Successful or not, India boast of 4 out of the top 10 highest totals in a chase, winning three of them.
Here, we take a look at India’s top 5 ODI chases!
362/1 against Australia, Jaipur, 2013
Chasing 359 against Australia is never easy, good batting track or not. But, India bossed the chase right from start and at no point did they look remotely in trouble. India started out with a 176-run partnership in just 26 overs. Even though Shikhar Dhawan fell on 95 off 86 balls, Rohit Sharma carried on to score an unbeaten 141 off just 123 balls.
He added 186* for the second wicket with Virat Kohli, who scored a 52-ball 100, the fastest by an Indian. That India managed to chase down the mammoth score in just 43.3 overs, shows how good the top 3 for India were on a good batting track, especially against bowlers of the class of Mitchell Johnson and James Faulkner.
356/7 against England, Pune, 2017
It could be called India’s best chase at home, largely because England had a better bowling attack than the Australian side against whom India had chased down 362, comprising of four seamers and two good spinners. England posted 350 thanks to a 40-ball 62 from Ben Stokes.
In reply, India were 24 for 2 in the sixth over and 63 for 4 in the 12th over, having lost their openers along with Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh. India found an unlikely hero in Kedar Jadhav, who scored the sixth-fastest ODI century by an Indian.
He added 200 runs for the fifth wicket with Virat Kohli and those runs came off just 147 balls, easing the pressure for the lower order that finished off the match. It was heartening to note that, when Kohli – who scored a sublime 122 off just 105 balls, was dismissed uncharacteristically, India still needed 88 runs to win.
First, Kedar, who eventually scored a 76-ball 120, and then Hardik Pandya, who scored an unbeaten 40*, managed to finish off the game to prevent a heartbreak. India amassed 356 for 7 with 11 balls still to spare!
351/4 against Australia, Nagpur, 2013
Australia set India a target of 351 thanks to centuries from Shane Watson and George Bailey. Under the lights, India looked in control right throughout, especially with Virat Kohli seeing off the chase, remaining unbeaten with one of the top 5 fastest ODI centuries by an Indian.
Dhawan scored a 102-ball 100 after adding 178 with Rohit Sharma (79) for the opening wicket. Kohli took it from there, scoring an unbeaten 66-ball 115* adding 56 with Dhawan, 56 with Suresh Raina and another 61 with MS Dhoni after a slight wobble.
Indian chased down 351 in 49.3 overs to prove that their scoring 362 couple of weeks before was by no means a fluke.
331/4 against Australia, Sydney, 2016
This was probably India’s greatest ODI chase, given that it came at the most hallowed of grounds, the SCG, far away from home. Very few teams chase successfully against Australia in Australia. India chased down 330 and that was no mean achievement.
Australia posted 330 thanks to centuries by David Warner and Mitchell Marsh.
India barely panicked in the chase, starting off with a 123-run partnership for the opening wicket. Interestingly, Kohli didn’t do much in this chase and Rohit Sharma fell on 99 to open up the match at 231 for 3 in the 35th over. However, a young Manish Pandey played a nerveless knock, scoring 104 off just 81 balls.
He added 104 for the fourth wicket with MS Dhoni, who scored just 34 in that partnership. India romped home in style in the 50th over and the 331-run chase was easier than what the scorecard seemed to suggest. The victory was the saving grace in a series where India had lost the previous 4 ODIs.
330/4 against Pakistan, Dhaka, 2012
When a successful chase for India comes against arch-nemesis, Pakistan, it always feels sweet. That it came in Asia Cup made it all the more special. Batting first at Dhaka, Pakistan scored 329 thanks to centuries from Mohammad Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed.
India’s chase didn’t start well as they lost Gautam Gambhir in the second ball of the match.
Sachin Tendulkar scored a 48-ball 52 adding 133 with Virat Kohli. Kohli smashed a 148-ball 183 (still his highest ODI score) and added another scintillating 172 for the third wicket with Rohit Sharma, who scored only 68 of those runs. Kohli was dismissed at the brink of victory, but India got home with 13 balls to spare.
The chase was impressive considering it came on a slow-ish track with the opponents possessing bowlers like Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz and Shahid Afridi.
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