Top 6 Knocks by Indian Batsmen in Successful Chases

Chasing is an art of cricket that requires a strong temperament, critical evaluation and calculative risks. The batsman has to go about his business extremely vigilantly, targeting the weak bowlers of the opposition and tactfully negotiating the good ones.

Traditionally, batting second has been viewed as a challenging task in cricket. The pressure of maintaining the required rate with keeping wickets in hand always goes on in the batsman's mind.

Runs on the board are guarded by lethal, attacking bowlers make the job more daunting. Chasing requires a sound understanding of the situation, such as when to adopt a cautious approach and when to switch gears.

The approach is of a team is vital, as it decides the fate of their innings. While chasing a high total, the batsmen, especially the openers are expected to come out all guns blazing and make the most of the powerplay overs.

In tricky, medium score matches, the onus is on the middle order to keep the scoreboard ticking while keeping the wickets in hand.

Close chases are as good as a roller coaster ride, with the fans' heartbeats increasing with every ball and over, let alone the players. As a result, we have seen many players, including several batting prodigies, falter under the pressure of a mammoth score over the years.

Nevertheless, there have been instances where new, inexperienced batsmen have thrived under pressure and held their nerve to take their team across the line.

In the previous decade, players like MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Michael Hussey have mastered the art of chasing, by seizing the opportunities with a cool head and adapting themselves to the situation.

We take a look at the best knocks by Indian batsmen in successful chases, some of which enabled India to clinch prestigious ICC titles

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6. MS Dhoni 183* vs Sri Lanka, 2005

Played at The Sawai Man Singh Stadium, this was the third ODI Match of the seven-match bilateral series between the two sides. Sri Lanka came into the game trailing 0-2 and looked to change their fortunes.

Legendary wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara smashed a scintillating 138*, followed by a knock of 71 by his veteran partner Mahela Jayawardene, as Sri Lanka raced to 298/4 in their 50 overs. A target of 299 was never easy to chase and losing the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar in the first over only made things worse for India.

However, what followed was an exhibition of sheer class and power-hitting, as an in-form, Mahendra Singh Dhoni smashed the Sri Lankan bowlers to all the parts of the ground. Dhoni exercised equal control over pace and spin and brought up his hundred in just 85 balls.

He added another 83 runs of just 60 balls, en route the highest score by a wicketkeeper in ODIs, beating Adam Gilchrist's 172.

MS Dhoni hit 15 fours and 10 sixes in his knock of 183* off 145 balls, which till date remains the highest score by an Indian while chasing and the second highest globally.

5. Rohit Sharma 141* vs Australia, 2013

Rohit Sharma top scored in the highest successful Indian chase

Once again it was at The SMS Jaipur, and this time, it was Australia at the receiving end. Batting first, Australia notched up a mammoth 359/5, in the second match of the seven-match series. It was runs galore as all the top 5 batsmen scored half-centuries for the first time in an ODI.

The Australian captain George Bailey top-scored with 92 off just 50 balls. Australia had won the first ODI riding on a 300 plus score, and victory seemed inevitable for the Kangaroos once again. However, the Indian batsmen had other ideas.

Openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan wreaked havoc on the Australian bowlers, adding 176 for the first wicket in just 26 overs. Rohit Sharma joined hands with Virat Kohli and played cautiously as the latter got off to a flying start. Rohit paced his innings at a strike rate close to 100, bringing up his 100 from 102 balls.

Hitman then changed gears and scored the remaining 41 runs from just 23 balls, smashing 17 fours and four sixes on his way. Virat Kohli scored the fastest hundred by an Indian, as the duo made a complete mockery of a giant 360 run-target, chasing it down with 6 and a half overs to spare.

Rohit's knock handed India a famous victory, and also completed the second-highest chase in an ODI.

4. Sachin Tendulkar 134 vs Australia, Sharjah Cup Final, 1998

Sachin Tendulkar scored a

match winning

134 on his 25th birthday

India had managed to enter the finals on the basis of superior Net Run-Rate (NRR) with just 1 victory out of 4 league matches. India had lost both their matches to other finalists Australia, who were in prime form, winning all 4 games on their way to the final. Being invited to bat first, Australia put 272 runs on the board, which was considered to be a huge score in those days.

Sachin Tendulkar opened the innings along with Sourav Ganguly. Though Ganguly departed soon, Sachin plundered the Australian bowling attack. The Indian talisman had recorded a three-figure score against the Aussies in the previous game as well and seemed to have carried on from where he left.

In an innings which became famous by the name 'Desert-Storm', The Master smashed 12 fours and 3 sixes in his knock of 134. He added 89 runs for the second wicket and stitched a match-winning fourth-wicket partnership of 120 runs with captain Mohammad Azharuddin.

It was such an impact knock that even Australian skipper Steve Waugh stressed that they lost to one person. Tendulkar was rightly adjudged the Man of the Match and the Man of the Tournament for his sensational performances with the willow. It was also Tendulkar's 25th birthday, which made the occasion even special.

3. Virat Kohli 183 vs Pakistan, Asia Cup 2012

Virat Kohli smashed a

career best

183

It is impossible not to mention Virat Kohli when you talk about chases. The Run Machine has mastered the art of chases; his ability to adapt to situations and absorb pressure has ensured that India end on the winning side on innumerable occasions.

Having suffered a shock defeat against Bangladesh, India were up for a high-pressure encounter against arch-rivals Pakistan. Both the Pakistani openers Nasir Jamshed and Mohammad Hafeez notched hundreds and set a target of 330 for the Indian side. In the absence of Virendra Sehwag, it was Gautam Gambhir who opened the innings with Sachin Tendulkar.

India lost the first wicket without opening their account, and another defeat looked evident on the cards. However, in came Virat Kohli, having gunned down a similar target a few days back Down Under. Kohli also had one hundred against Sri Lanka in the tournament.

He tore apart the Pakistani bowling attack and displayed his wide array of shots. He brought India's 150 in just 22 and a half overs. He made a century stand with Tendulkar and a giant 172 run partnership with Rohit Sharma, thus ensuring an Indian win with 13 balls to spare.

Kohli hit 22 fours and a six on his way to 183. This is the highest individual score versus Pakistan in ODIs. This knock established Kohli's reputation as a dynamic chaser, which he further strengthened with other premium knocks.

2. Mohammad Kaif 87*, Natwest Final, 2002

Mohammad Kaif of India on his way to a century

This match is fondly remembered by cricket fans for the jubilant celebrations of captain Sourav Ganguly. However, those moments could not have been possible had two young guns not rose up to the occasion.

Having won the toss, England elected to bat first in the big final. Centuries by Marcus Trescothick and the English Captain Nasser Hussain as well as late onslaught by Andrew Flintoff enabled England to amass 325/5 in their quota of 50 overs.

Indian Openers Sourav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag gave a flying start to India with 100 coming up in just 14 overs. However, the Ganguly's wicket led to a sudden downfall, and India lost their top 5 for the next 40 runs. When Sachin Tendulkar was dismissed with 180 runs remaining, most of the fans had given up on the chase.

However, two young heroes announced their arrival at the global stage. Under-19 heroes Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif exhibited grit, class and maturity in their 121-run partnership which took a match-changing course.

Yuvraj's wicket fell with about 80 runs still remaining, but, Kaif kept his nerve and scripted a famous Indian victory at the Lord's. This knock etched another milestone of Indian dominance at the Mecca of Cricket after the 1983 World Cup.

MS Dhoni finished the innings with a six

1.MS Dhoni 91* vs Sri Lanka, World Cup Final, 2011

MS Dhoni seems to be in love with high-pressure chases against the neighbour Islanders. The 2011 World Cup was an epoch-making event, both, in the history of Indian Cricket, as well as in Dhoni's leadership. With the event being held in India and being Sachin Tendulkar's last World Cup, the players, as well as the cricket fanatics, were emotionally charged.

Riding on the sublime form of Yuvraj Singh, Sachin Tendulkar and the tactical prowess of Captain MS Dhoni, India had made it to the finals of the tournament. Though the Indian bowlers made a disciplined effort upfront, Mahela Jayawardene rebuilt the innings with a classic hundred thereby posting 274/6 on the board.

In reply, India lost opener Virender Sehwag on 0, and the Wankhede crowd was dumbfounded on the subsequent dismissal of Sachin Tendulkar. After a stand of 83 runs, India lost the third wicket in the form of Virat Kohli.

At this point, MS Dhoni, known for his out-of-the-box thinking, promoted himself ahead of an in-form Yuvraj Singh. He paced the innings along with Gambhir and tactfully negotiated the overs of Muttiah Muralitharan.

MSD stayed till the end and finished the innings in his trademark style with a six, a shot that has become an emotion over the years, fulfilling the dreams of Master Blaster and a billion Indians. Dhoni was rightly adjudged Man of the Final, for his sensational 91* from 79 deliveries.