Ben Stokes has accorded top priority to Test cricket; bids fair to be ranked among the finest batting allrounders

Ben Stokes is set to emulate Gary Sobers, the king of allrounders,  in terms of Test runs and wickets.

It is commendable that Ben Stokes has given top priority to Test cricket. He skipped the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 and has made himself unavailable for the World T20 in order to be fresh for Test cricket. More particularly, he wants to be fit to bowl regularly and fulfil his role as allrounder. As one of the leading cricket personalities of the time, he has, in no uncertain terms, declared that Test cricket is the ultimate form of the game and deserves all the respect.

Firmly at the helm of the England Test team, and with another belligerent personality, coach Brendon McCullum, by his side, Stokes appears set to pen the next exhilarating chapter in his saga.

Gary Sobers is the king of allrounders. Jacques Kallis with his fabulous record is not far behind. Imran Khan and Keith Miller would come next in the hierarchy. In simple terms, an allrounder can be defined as one whose batting average is higher than his bowling average. A good allrounder’s quotient, that is, batting average divided by bowling average should be above 1, or in the positive.

Ideally, an allrounder’s batting average should be above 30, and bowling average below 30. Taking a minimum of 2,000 runs and 100 wickets, there have been only 18 allrounders with a quotient of more than 1 in the 147-year history of Test cricket.  Monty Noble missed the distinction by just three runs, having scored 1,997 runs at an average of 30.25, and taken 121 wickets at 25.00 apiece in his 42 Tests, for a quotient of 1.21.

Wilfred Rhodes, whose Test career spanned a huge period of 31 years between 1899 and 1930, was the pioneer. He scored 2,325 runs at an average of 30.19, and bagged 127 wickets at 26.96 each in 58 Tests, ending with a quotient of 1.11.

Sobers is at the top of the league with a quotient of 1.697; Kallis is right on his heels with 1.695. Imran ranks third at 1.65, with Miller close behind at 1.60. Ravindra Jadeja, who is still playing, has a quotient of 1.49.

When he hung up his boots in 1974, Sobers held the record for the highest score (365 not out) and aggregate (8,032 runs), and centuries second in number (26) to Bradman, in his 93 Test matches, and was the first to hit 6 sixes in an over in First-class cricket. One of the greatest batsmen, with a repertoire of bowling none has been able to match (235 wickets), and a brilliant fielder, Sobers remains peerless.

Kallis was one for the long distance, amassing 13,289 runs with 45 hundreds and picking up 292 wickets in 166 Test matches.

Sobers (57.78) and Kallis (55.37) are the only allrounders to average in the fifties with the bat.

Among top allrounders, the only three to average below 23 with the ball are Richard Hadlee 22.29 (431 wickets in 86 Tests), Imran 22.81 (362 wickets in 88 Tests) and Miller 22.97 (170 wickets in 55 Tests).

Ben Stokes is one of just five top allrounders to score above 5,000 Test runs

Just five allrounders have scored above 5,000 runs, Kallis, Sobers, Kapil Dev (5,248 runs, 31.05 average, 131 Tests) Ben Stokes (6,316 runs, 35.48 average, 102 Tests), and Ian Botham (5,200 runs, 33.54 average, 102 Tests).

Similarly, only six allrounders have captured 300 wickets and more, Ravichandran Ashwin (516 wickets, 23.75 average, 100 Tests), Kapil Dev (434 wickets, 29.64 average, 131 Tests), Hadlee (431 wickets, 22.29 average, 86 Tests), Shaun Pollock (421 wickets, 23.11 average, 108 Tests), Botham (383 wickets, 28.40 average, 102 Tests), and Imran (362 wickets, 22.81 average, 88 Tests). Ravindra Jadeja is ready to creep into this list (294 wickets, 24.13 average, 72 Tests). Incidentally, these are the only seven allrounders to score 3,000 runs as well.

From the above figures, it is clear who the top allrounders have been in Test history. The aggressive, hard-hitting Stokes has made his mark as a batting allrounder. His bowling has lagged behind. Injuries have taken their toll. But he is on the verge of 200 wickets. After 102 Tests, he has 198 wickets for an average of 31.99, and a quotient of 1.109. When he reaches the milestone, he will be only the third to score 6,000 runs and capture 200 wickets after Sobers and Kallis. With the bat, Stokes is a match-winner, capable of turning around a game at any time, with a fierce desire to win.

Present-day cricket is fortunate to have several fine allrounders, like in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s, though they do not get the same credit.

In addition to Stokes, there are four other allrounders putting in sterling performances this generation. In chronological order, they are Shakib Al Hasan (67 Tests, 4,505 runs at 38.83 average, 237 wickets at 31.16 average, 1.24 quotient), Ashwin (100 Tests, 3,309 runs at 26.26 average, 516 wickets at 23.75 average, 1.105 quotient), Jadeja (72 Tests, 3,036 runs at 36.14 average, 294 wickets at 24.13 average, 1.49 quotient), and Jason Holder (64 Tests, 2797 runs at 29.44 average, 157 wickets at 29.21 average, 1.00 quotient).

Will Stokes become the first to score 8,000 runs and bag 300 wickets in his Test career? Time will tell, but his attitude and determination certainly indicate that he will.

Preserving Test Cricket

 

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently took a laudatory step by formulating a Test cricket incentive scheme. It encourages players to turn out in Tests and makes it profitable for them. BCCI is one of the leading cricket authorities in the world, and must be commended for taking this step to promote Test cricket, and in fact retaining its primacy.

For almost four decades there has been chatter that Test cricket is fading into oblivion. It was said that One-day cricket would replace the traditional form. After the introduction and popularity of Twenty20, it is now being said that the new form will push the One-day game into the shadows. What critics fail to realize is that cricket has a wonderful bouquet of Test matches, One-day Internationals and Twenty20, and the key is to maintain a fine balance and enjoy all the formats.

Through 1990, I had written a book entitled ‘Test Cricket: End of the Road?’ arguing that Test cricket would survive the onslaught of the One-day format, and in fact thrive. Test cricket has indeed survived, and there is no sign of it petering out. The recent five-Test series between India and England is a case in point. All the Tests drew good crowds, and the English Barmy Army made its presence felt in all the venues. There was a huge turnaround in the first Test. India were far ahead, then England made a stirring comeback, and clinched it. India had their backs to the wall in the fourth Test, but fought back to pull off an exciting win.

In the other Tests too there were ebbs and flows, ups and downs. The battle was closer than what the 4-1 score-line suggests. This is what makes Test matches so fascinating and unpredictable. It is, then, heartening that a five-Test series will be played between Australia and India during the 2024-25 season, for the first time since 1991-92 involving the two teams. Cricket authorities are finally understanding the significance of Test matches.

This is what brings one to the World Test Championship (WTC). To have one final to decide such a prestigious event is a travesty of justice. It should be a league without a final. It is also questionable to always hold the final in England. It is obviously because the final comes up in the northern summer coinciding with the English season, and off-season for the other countries. It another reason why a final is redundant.   

Secondly, WTC should be a four-year cycle. A two-year cycle devalues the importance of the championship. When the Olympics are held every four years, when the football World Cup is held every four years, indeed when the One-day cricket World Cup is held every four years, why is the WTC held every two years? Just as the International Cricket Council (ICC) rectified the flawed original points system for WTC, it should roll out a four-year WTC.

In three years, Test cricket will celebrate its 150^th anniversary. A four-year cycle of WTC culminating in that year of 2027 would be a wonderful way to commemorate it.

The thought process of the BCCI to avoid matches during the severe winter in north India is a good one. In the last 25 years, fog has become a big disruptor. Ideally, the north should host the game from mid-October to mid-December, and from mid-February to mid-March, before the Indian Premier League (IPL) kicks in. The rest of the country offers perfect weather for cricket between mid-December and mid-February. India is blessed to have diverse weather conditions. It is a good idea to optimize it to the benefit of cricket.

Two Classic Books by Indra Vikram Singh

 

A Maharaja's Turf

Collector’s edition on the triumph of Maharaja Sir Vijaysinhji

of Rajpipla in the Epsom Derby of England in 1934

Published in India by Sporting Links

ISBN 978-81-901668-3-6

Fully Illustrated

Hardcover with jacket 8.75 x 11.5 x 0.6 inches (landscape)

Weight 500 grams

140 Pages

Available at an attractive price on Amazon  https://www.amazon.in/dp/8190166832

This is the story of the exhilarating victory of Maharaja Sir Vijaysinhji of Rajpipla in the Epsom Derby of England in 1934, the only Indian owner to win the blue riband of the turf in its history dating back to 1780. The dapper Indian prince’s horse Windsor Lad, ridden by Charlie Smirke, left the hitherto undefeated favourite Colombo trailing in third place in the presence of royalty led by King George V and Queen Mary, and a multitude of an estimated quarter to half a million people on that damp afternoon of 6th June. The triumph earned the Maharaja a unique hat-trick of Derby victories as he had already clinched the first Indian Derby at Calcutta in 1919 with his horse Tipster, and the Irish Derby at Curragh in 1926 with Embargo.

Trained by Marcus Marsh, Windsor Lad went on to be rated as one of the finest horses of the 20^th century. Marcus Marsh’s father, Richard, had trained Derby-winning horses for the then reigning King George V and the late King Edward VII.

The enthralling tale recounted by the Maharaja’s grandson Indra Vikram Singh offers an insider's insight, and is embellished with rare media photographs of the race and from the Rajpipla royal family collection over many generations. It has been extensively researched from about 80 newspapers and magazines of 1934, five books and websites, and carries articles by the Maharaja himself. There are news reports, cartoons and caricatures which open out a whole new world. Featured are the British royal family, the Aga Khan, Maharaja Man Singh II of Jaipur and the leading racehorses, owners, trainers and jockeys of the day, among other eminent personalities. 

The book captures the era between the two World Wars, of imperial times and a royal lifestyle, also going back centuries into history, connecting the past and the present and depicting the march of time, even as the thrilling race remains the central theme. It unfolds the tale of the uncanny prophesy of Gipsy Lee, the several coincidences around the number 13, the defeat of a 'super-horse', and the unrelenting quest of a prince to realise his dream that is bound to keep the reader transfixed.

 

Don’s Century

Biography of Don Bradman

and a panaroma of batting from the 1860s to the present times

Published in India by Sporting Links

ISBN 978-81-901668-5-0

Fully illustrated

Paperback French Fold 11 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches

Weight 480 grams

188 pages  

Available at an attractive price on Amazon  https://www.amazon.in/dp/8190166859 

The questions still asked are: how great was Don Bradman actually, was he just a run-getting machine and a statistical marvel, or was he truly the best there has ever been, have there been other batsmen as good or better than Bradman. Don’s Century analyses Bradman’s batting technique, brings forth his amazing achievements at the crease, and assesses the merits of other great batsmen from the 1860s to the present times. Written in the centenary year of the peerless Don Bradman, the book is a celebration of the life and magic of the willow of The Don, and also of the art of batting and indeed the game of cricket. 

The 11-chapter book by Indra Vikram Singh, the only Indian biographer of Bradman, interspersed with stories and comments from legendary writers and cricketers alike, and extensively researched from scores of old publications, has three sections.

The main segment showcases Bradman's days at the crease from Bowral to Sydney, on to Lord's and Leeds, back to Adelaide, and finishing at The Oval in 1948. The legend begins with young Don’s rise to the top, his first fifty and hundred in the backwaters of Bowral, the maiden double century against Wingello and triple ton versus Moss Vale, hundred on first-class debut and on to Test cricket. Bradman’s legendary feats in the Test arena are recalled in all their magnificence, the hundreds in his first Test series, the unprecedented and still-unparalleled triumphs of the Ashes tour of 1930, and annihilation of the West Indies and South African teams.

The saga undergoes a dramatic twist with the vicious Bodyline attack that was devised solely to decimate the genius of Bradman. This chapter carries extracts from letters received by the author from England’s Bob Wyatt who was vice captain to Douglas Jardine during that infamous series.

The aftermath of Bodyline, Bradman’s exhilarating fightbacks on and off the field, how his stirring deeds brought solace to the suffering millions during the Great Depression, and his resilience as captain of Australia are presented lucidly, leading to the sabbatical brought about by the Second World War. The final lap of The Don’s career after the war, the firm hold on the Ashes, his exploits against the first Indian team after the nation’s independence, and finally the 1948 tour of England by his ‘Invincibles’ are described vividly and objectively. The text is supplemented by twenty scorecards detailing Bradman’s finest achievements in the first-class and Test arenas.

A large chapter in the middle is a panorama of batting portraying thirty-four of the best players down the ages, for no story of Sir Donald Bradman can be complete without an appraisal of other giants of the crease.

Commencing with the colossus of the Victorian era Dr. W.G. Grace, the captivating genius Prince Ranjitsinhji, the endearing and enthralling Victor Trumper from Australia, the complete master Sir Jack Hobbs, continuing with the likes of Frank Woolley, Charles 'Governor General' Macartney, Bill Ponsford, Walter Hammond, Stan McCabe, the forbear to West Indies giants George Headley, the brilliant South Africans Bruce Mitchell and Dudley Nourse, India’s Vijay Merchant, Sir Leonard Hutton, Dennis Compton, Neil Harvey, Arthur Morris, the inimitable Ws Sir Frank Worrell, Sir Everton Weekes and Sir Clyde Walcott, the original little master Pakistan’s Hanif Mohammad, the incomparable Sir Garfield Sobers, Graeme Pollock, Barry Richards, Greg Chappell, Sunil Gavaskar, Sir Vivian Richards, arguably New Zealand’s finest Martin Crowe, Steve Waugh, the exhilarating Sri Lankan Aravinda de Silva, and concluding with the champions of the modern era Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden, and many more referred to down history, how good they were, and how they compared with each other and Bradman.

They include some of Bradman's favourite players. This is not just a factual or statistical segment, but importantly talks about the epochs and conditions they played in, and also has interesting little tales. It traces the evolution and development of the game from W.G. Grace’s days in the 1860s till the present day.

The third and concluding part explores the vicissitudes of Bradman’s life, trials and tribulations, his persona, way of life and quest for excellence, the detractors, friends and family, post-retirement days and role as cricket administrator, and the final stretch of one of the most amazing stories ever, of a sporting hero and icon beyond compare. A handwritten letter from The Don received by the author Indra Vikram Singh in 1999, and an article based on it that he wrote at Bradman’s demise in 2001, are all featured in this tribute to the unquestioned king of kings of the crease.

There are nearly 100 classic photographs of Bradman and other greats in sepia brown from the top agencies of the world. A comprehensive statistics section highlighting Bradman’s accomplishments and records sums up the inspirational tale. A detailed index makes the book extremely user-friendly.

Agriculture and mineral resources of Rajpipla State as described in the book ‘Princes of India’ (1937)

 

Rajpipla is an essentially agricultural State. The cultivation of cotton on a large scale and improvement of its staple has brought prosperity to cultivators. Until about the year 1919 the cotton grown was of the inferior Goghari variety, the result being that the cultivators could not get an adequate return for their produce. In order to improve their lot His Highness, the present Maharaja (Vijaysinhji), introduced in the year 1919-20 legislation prohibiting people from sowing Goghari and other inferior varieties and making it obligatory on them to sow the long-stapled variety of cotton known as “1027 A.I.F’.

Every year the State through expert agencies selects the best seed of this kind and distributes it to the cultivators. The results and the consequent profits to the farmers are outstandingly marked. For whereas in the former years the Rajpipla cotton fetched prices 30 to 40 rupees per candy below Broach Cotton, it now fetches 50 to 80 rupees more than Broach and is in a class with and compares most favourably with the Navsari cotton which is the best grown Indian cotton.

Another great advantage to the cultivators is that whereas in the past they had to go 40 to 50 miles, and in many cases more, away from their houses into the British districts to sell their cotton, they have, through the introduction of this measure and the success it has achieved, found a ready market at their own doors, and there is such a great demand for the superior variety of cotton that it is readily sold out, even in these days of trade depression, to outside the merchants who flock there during the cotton season.

The popularity and success of this measure will be judged from the fact that the area under cotton cultivation, which was somewhere between sixty and seventy thousand acres before the year 1919, has increased by leaps and bounds, and is for the last six or seven years in the vicinity of 1,40,000 acres, and has remained at that figure even in the times of trade depression, which has affected cotton more than any other commodity.

This activity in cotton has had a most wholesome effect on trade and industry generally. Whereas before the introduction of long-stapled cotton there were only two ginning factories and no cotton press, there now exist eleven ginning factories and three cotton presses, all working at a considerable profit to their owners. Encouraged by these good results, the starting of a spinning and weaving mill in the State is being contemplated and there are offers from several companies to launch a project.

The country is not lacking in mineral resources. As already mentioned, the Cornelian or Agate Mines of the State are known from the time of Ptolemy. Early in the sixteenth century an Abyesinian merchant named Bawaghor is known to have established a cornelian factory at Limbodra. This Sidi merchant, while wandering from place to place on pilgrimage, did business in precious stones and, becoming skilled in agates, set up a factory at Limbodra where he prospered and died rich.

A shrine was raised in his honour on a hill close to the Cornelian mines, now well known as the Bawaghor Hills in the Ratanpur Forests of this State. A fair of very great importance is held there every year. Negotiation are in progress with some well-known firms to work the mines on a scientific basis. These have been handicapped, however, in the general trade depression and by the fact that cheap foreign articles made from artificial stones are abundant in the market. With improved economic conditions it is hoped to work this industry on modern and scientific lines and put it on a sound financial basis.

Marble of good quality is to be found in the Garudeshwar Taluka of this State. It is basically black in colour and takes very good polish. Marble in white and in grayish and greenish tints is occasionally found.

There is excellent building stone near Jhagadia, in the Kadia Dungar and Bardaria Hills. The stone is grayish white and rather on the hard side. It takes good polish and is suitable for carving.

The proper working of these quarries had been handicapped up till now by the difficulty of transport, but it is now being overcome by the construction of a light railway and it is hoped that this building stone will secure a good market.

Red and yellow ochre and fire and pottery clays are also found in abundance and recently a factory for pottery works and tiles has been established at Jhagadia. Cement stones and good lime stones and gypsum are also found in large quantity in the State.

Rulers of Rajpipla driving their cars when Governors of Bombay came calling in early 20th century

Maharana Chhatrasinhji of Rajpipla driving his
Wolseley 6 hp 1903-04 car,
with Governor of Bombay Lord Lamington seated beside in 1905.

Maharaja Vijaysinhji of Rajpipla driving through a forest,
with Lady Willingdon seated beside and
Governor of Bombay Lord Willingdon at the back in 1917.

Excerpt from Indra Vikram Singh’s book ‘Cricket World Cup - Hat-trick of Home Wins’. Hall of Fame: Jofra Archer

 Speedy, key element in England’s victory trail of 2019

Jofra Archer was England’s highest wicket-taker in the 2019 World Cup with 20 scalps, and 5 three-wicket hauls.

ONE-DAY WORLD CUP BOWLING: Matches 11, Balls 605 Maidens 8, Runs 461, Wickets 20, Average 23.05, Best 3/27, Runs/Over 4.57, Catches 2

A lethal paceman capable of generating lightning speed and disconcerting bounce, Jofra Archer’s career has been dogged by injury. He has been in and out of the English team, but when fit is central to their plans with his ability to strike, invariably when needed.

Virat Kohli observed about Archer before the 2019 World Cup, "I think he is probably going to be their X-Factor because he holds a skillset which is probably different from everybody else. He can generate a lot of pace which can be intimidating. You don't expect that because of his run-up but the way he is built...he is a great athlete.”

 

The English batsmen flayed the South African attack to post 311 for eight in the opening faceoff of the 2019 World Cup. Archer caused early damage, hitting Hashim Amla on the grill of the helmet with a vicious bouncer, forcing him to retire hurt. Not long after, he had the new batsman Aiden Markram caught at slip. Soon, he sent back skipper Faf du Plessis with another bumper, edged into the hands of fine-leg. He returned later to end a fighting knock from Rassie van der Dussen (50), having him caught at mid-on. The Proteas were on the ropes at 167 for six, and eventually bowled out for 207 in under 40 overs. Archer returned with a bag of three for 27 from 7 overs. It was a fiery World Cup debut.

 

The Pakistani top-order was in prime form. It was a sobering experience for Archer as he finished with none for 79 in a total of 348 for eight. It was a tall order for England, and battle as they might, ended up 14 runs short of the opponents’ total.

 

There was a course correction as they took on Bangladesh. The opening pair of Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow that served them so well in this tournament strung together a century stand. It enabled them to post their highest World Cup total of 386 for six. Archer bowled a beauty to Soumya Sarkar that sent the off bail flying. He returned later and got Mehidy Hasan Miraj to nick into the gloves of Bairstow. In the same over, he bowled a fierce short one to last-man Mustafizur Rahman who did not have the wherewithal to survive it. He fended and the ball lobbed to Bairstow. Bangladesh were sent packing for 280. Archer had three for 29 this time off 8.5 overs.

 

The English bowlers put the West Indies batting under pressure right from the start. Archer dug one in to top-scorer Nicholas Pooran (63), and had him nicking into the gloves of Jos Buttler. Next ball, he trapped Sheldon Cottrell leg-before. Soon, he had Carlos Brathwaite edging for Buttler to snap up another one. West Indies were gasping at 211 for nine, and were all out a run later. Archer walked off with three for 30 off 9 overs. England breezed to an eight-wicket win.

 

With Eoin Morgan leading the annihilation of the Afghan bowlers with his 148 in 71 deliveries, England recorded their highest total in the World Cup of 397 for six. Archer was once again relentless. Noor Ali Zadran played him on to the stumps for a duck. He castled top scorer Hashmatullah Shahidi (76). Finally he had Rashid Khan caught in the covers. Afghanistan finished on 247 for eight. Archer captured three for 52 in 10 overs.

 

Archer once again made an early breakthrough, getting the Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne to edge to Buttler behind the sticks. Later, he deceived Dhananjaya de Silva with a slower one and had him caught at mid-on. In his next over, he had Thisara Perera caught at third-man with a short one. Sri Lanka posted 232 for nine. Archer again had an analysis of three for 52 in 10 overs. England made heavy weather of the chase, and despite Ben Stokes’ unbeaten 82, lost by 20 runs.

 

The Australian openers Aaron Finch and David Warner put on a century stand. Archer picked up centurion Finch, caught hooking at fine-leg. That was his solitary wicket, conceding 56 runs in 9 overs. Australia posted 285 for seven. Once again, Ben Stokes played a heroic innings of 89, but England were bowled out for 221.

 

The English batsmen made amends by putting up 337 for seven on the board off the Indian bowling. It was a spirited chase by their batsmen with Rohit Sharma hitting his third hundred of the tournament and Virat Kohli his fifth successive half-century. They denied Archer a wicket as he expended 45 runs in 10 overs. But India finished 31 runs short of the English score.

 

With openers Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow continuing their great form, England logged up 305 for eight against New Zealand. After Chris Woakes had dismissed Henry Nicholls, Martin Guptill glanced Archer, and Buttler took a brilliant catch. New Zealand were struggling at 14 for two after 5.2 overs. They eventually folded up for 186. Archer had a return of one for 17 off 7 overs.

 

Archer struck a stunning blow in the semi-final, trapping Finch leg-before first-ball, bringing it in sharply. With Glenn Maxwell on the attack, Archer had him caught in the covers with a slower one. Australia were dismissed for 223. Archer gave away 32 runs for his two wickets in 10 overs. England coasted to an eight-wicket triumph.

 

In the dramatic final, Archer knocked off the furniture of last-man Matt Henry. New Zealand ended on 241 for eight. This wicket cost Archer 42 runs in 10 overs. England were also bowled out for 241 off the last ball of their 50^th over. Defending 15 runs in the Super Over, Archer conceded the same number. The Super Over was also tied. England won the title on higher boundary count.

Archer played a vital part in England’s victory trail of 2019. He was their highest wicket-taker with 20 scalps at 23.05 apiece and an economy-rate of 4.57. He had 5 three-wicket hauls, four of them in a row. Whenever in need of a breakthrough, his side turned to him, and more often than not he delivered.

Excerpt from Indra Vikram Singh’s book ‘Cricket World Cup - Hat-trick of Home Wins’. Hall of Fame: Shikhar Dhawan

 Belligerent and jovial southpaw opener

How much India missed Shikhar Dhawan in the 2019 semi-final, we will never know, had injury not forced him out of the tournament after a brilliant century.

ONE-DAY WORLD CUP BATTING: Matches 10, Innings 10, Not Out -, Highest Score 137, Runs 537, Average 53.70, Strike-rate 94.21, 100s 3, 50s 1, Catches 7

Shikhar Dhawan has been Rohit Sharma’s long-time opening partner in One-day Internationals. A study in contrast, they complement each other well. Apart from the obvious left-right combination, while one is belligerent and forthright, the other has a silken touch and is seemingly laidback. Ever ready to break into a smile, the slap on the thigh after taking a catch has become as much of a hallmark as the salute by Sheldon Cottrell after taking a wicket. There is always a sense of fun when Dhawan is around, and he can score serious runs too.

Walking out with Rohit, facing Pakistan on World Cup debut in 2015, it was a quiet start. The partnership did not go further than 34 off 7.3 overs. Rohit fell for 15. There was steady progress with the arrival of Virat Kohli, the fifty of the partnership coming up in 10.1 overs. With the increase in tempo, Dhawan went to his half-century off 54 deliveries. The century of the stand was raised in 18.3 overs. Unfortunately, Dhawan was run out. His splendid 73 had come off 76 balls, having struck a six and 7 fours. The partnership yielded 129 runs in 22.2 overs. There was another century stand between Kohli (107) and Suresh Raina (74). India scored a round 300 for the loss of seven wickets. Pakistan were slow to begin with, then lost quick wickets, and were finally all out for 224.

It was Rohit’s turn to be run out and that, tragically, for a duck as A.B. de Villiers’ throw from the covers hit the stumps. It was again Kohli in tandem with Dhawan. Gradually, they picked up momentum in the face of steady bowling by the Proteas. The fifty of the partnership was posted in 11.5 overs. Dhawan raised his half-century off 70 balls. Dhawan struck Wayne Parnell for two consecutive fours bringing up the century stand in 20.3 overs, a successive one between the pair. Kohli pulled a short one from Imran Tahir into the hands of mid-wicket. His 46 had come off 60 deliveries with the aid of three boundaries. The partnership had realised 127 runs in 24.2 overs. As the new man Ajinkya Rahane got into his stride, Dhawan glided Parnell to the ropes at point to raise his maiden World Cup hundred off 122 balls. Soon the fifty of the partnership was up in 8.1 overs. With runs flowing freely, the century stand in 13.4 overs and Rahane’s half-century off just 40 deliveries came off successive balls. Dhawan was caught at long-leg off Parnell. His 137 was the highest score against South Africa in the World Cup, spanning 146 balls and studded with 2 sixes and 14 fours. It was a 125-run association from 16.3 overs. Rahane scored 79, having faced 60 balls and struck 3 sixes and 7 fours. India, this time, posted 307 for seven. South Africa did not put up much resistance, being bowled out for 177. Dhawan bagged the man-of-the-match prize.

India trounced United Arab Republic by nine wickets but Dhawan was caught at backward-point for 14.

Both Dhawan (9) and Rohit (7) fell early as India made heavy weather of a target of 183 set by the West Indies. They eventually pulled off a six-wicket win.

They were both due for runs, and they duly got them. Ireland scored 259 runs, being bowled out in 49 overs. India’s batting was brilliant. The fifty was registered off 8.2 overs. The century was raised in 14.1 overs. Dhawan was first to his fifty off 54 balls. Rohit hoisted his half-century in style, having faced 49 deliveries. The 150 was up off 20.1 overs. Dhawan was speeding away. Rohit, though, played on to his stumps. His 64 came off 66 balls, having hit 3 sixes and 3 fours. The partnership realised 174 runs, record for India for the first wicket in the World Cup. Dhawan breezed to his century from just 84 deliveries. But he was caught in the covers off the very next ball that he faced, having blasted 5 sixes and 11 fours. Kohli (44 not out) and Rahane (33 not out) carried India to an eight-wicket victory off only 36.5 overs with an unbroken stand of 70. Dhawan won another man-of-the-match award.

A superb century by skipper Brendan Taylor, a consecutive one to boot, enabled Zimbabwe to post a challenging total of 287. India lost four wickets for 92 in 22.4 overs, including Rohit (16) and Dhawan (4), both to Tinashe Panyangara. But a tremendous unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 196 in 26 overs between Suresh Raina (110 not out) and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (85 not out) carried India to a four-wicket triumph with 8 balls to spare. It was India’s highest partnership in a run-chase, bettering the 174-run stand between Dhawan and Rohit against Ireland in the previous match. India’s score of 288 was their highest batting second in the World Cup, and they joined New Zealand as the only teams to win all their six pool matches.

Boundaries came regularly at the start in the quarter-final face-off with Bangladesh. Rohit and Dhawan raised the fifty in 9.3 overs. They were cantering along when Dhawan stepped out at the sight of Shakib Al Hasan, was deceived in the air and stumped by Mushfiqur Rahim. His 30 had come off 50 balls with the aid of 3 fours. The partnership had realised 75 runs in 16.3 overs. The platform had been built. Rohit went on to score a brilliant 137 (126 balls, 3 sixes, 14 fours). His fourth-wicket stand of 122 in 15.5 overs with Suresh Raina spurred India to a formidable total of 302 for six. Bangladesh were hardly in the picture with a series of cameos and finally folded up for 193.

A superb century by Steve Smith and his defining 182-run second-wicket partnership with Aaron Finch seized the initiative for Australia. A total of 328 for seven assumes gigantic proportions in a World Cup knock-out encounter. As long as Rohit and Dhawan were together, it looked as though they were making a fight of it. After a cautious start, they picked up pace. They raised the fifty off 9.5 overs. It was all going well, and it all went wrong! Dhawan was caught in the covers off Josh Hazlewood. His 45 was scored off 41 balls with the aid of a six and 6 fours. The stand was worth 76 in 12.5 overs. Wickets began tumbling, Kohli for 1, Rohit for 34, Raina for 7. In the blink of an eye, India were 108 for four in 23 overs. Rahane (44) and Dhoni (65) did put on 70 in 13.2 overs but the momentum had been lost, and too many wickets had fallen. India folded up for 233. A golden streak of 11 consecutive World Cup wins had ended.

It was a fine tournament for Dhawan. He became the fourth Indian to score 400-plus runs in a single World Cup, the others being Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid. His 412 runs in 8 matches came at an average of 51.50, and strike-rate of 91.75, with 2 centuries and a half-century.

It was a fine start for India in 2019, restricting South Africa to 227 for nine. Dhawan, though, was caught behind off Kagiso Rabada for 8. Rohit went on to score a splendid 122 (144 balls, 2 sixes, 13 fours), and India sailed to a six-wicket triumph.

Batting first against Australia, Rohit and Dhawan were off to a steady start. A boundary each off Adam Zampa took the score past 50 in 11.3 overs. The boundaries kept coming. Dhawan raised his fifty off 53 balls. The hundred of the innings was up in 19 overs. Rohit was caught at the wicket off Coulter-Nile for 57, having faced 70 balls and hit a six and 3 fours. The partnership had realised 127 runs in 22.3 overs. Joined by Kohli, Dhawan blazed on. The fifty of their stand arrived in 8.3 overs. Dhawan raised his hundred from 94 balls. Trying to hit Mitchell Starc over mid-wicket, he was caught near the ropes. It was a fine 117, spanning 109 deliveries and studded with 16 boundaries. The stand fell short of 100 by just 7 runs, having lasted 14.3 overs. Kohli scored 82, and India piled up 352 for five. It was a tall task, the Aussies were in hot pursuit but produced no really big innings. They finished on 316.

Just as India were celebrating a glorious win over the reigning champions, and complimenting Dhawan for his terrific century, came the sobering news that he had injured his thumb during that innings, and was ruled out of the rest of the tournament. Sachin Tendulkar tweeted, “Feel for you Shikhar. You were playing well & to be injured in the middle of such an important tournament is heartbreaking. I’m sure you’ll come back stronger than ever.” How much his injury affected India’s chances, we will never know. Maybe his presence in the semi-final might have helped, but that broad smile was certainly missed. Dhawan has 537 runs in his 10-match stint in the World Cup with an average of 53.70 and strike-rate of 94.21 runs per 100 balls, with 3 hundreds and a fifty. The combination of Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma provided many a memorable moment at the top of the order.