Shikhar Dhawan is out of form, Rohit Sharma is injured, Suresh Raina is inconsistent, Ajinkya Rahane is unreliable, Ambati Rayudu is inexperienced and MS Dhoni is under immense pressure. All this leads to one name, Virat Kohli. At the previous World Cup that name was undoubtedly Sachin Tendulkar, but luckily India had players who were in their peak but this time around, considering their recent form in Australia, India are not the favourites.

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Now, the Team management is in a huge dilemma having submitted the list of players for the World Cup. Another headache for Dhoni is whether to send in Kohli at No. 3 or No. 4 as his batting position, depending on whether other batsmen fit into the perfect combination. Over the years, Kohli has emerged and developed himself as one of the finest batsman in world cricket scoring tons of runs both at home and overseas. Apart from that, his ability to read the oppositions attack, aggressiveness, providing stability in the middle and chasing totals is incomparable to any other batsman in the world.

Kohli, who took over the Test captaincy, scored 692 runs at an average of 86.50 during the Test series against Australia and the only other Indian batsman to come closest to that tally was opener Murali Vijay – 482 runs. Despite being in good form, Indian selectors ignored the Test opener sparking a nationwide debate. Surely, India’s current batting line-up cannot be compared to the previous World Cup but it is certainly not short of quality. The likes of Rohit Sharma and Raina have played in more than 300+ ODIs and it is time they showcase their ability at the mega event.

Kohli on top
In the past five years, considering records both overseas and in neutral venues, Kohli averages 48.34 in 77 games with 11 hundreds and 14 half centuries. Dhoni, one of the best finishers in ODIs comes in second in terms of averages – 45.11 but Raina’s 30.71 and Rohit’s 34.35 is comparatively poor. Rohit moved to the opening position in June 2013 but has had limited opportunities lower down the order. Raina, too, comes in at 5 or 6 and has to play the big shots immediately but the same applies to Dhoni, who switches between 6 and 7. Rohit’s 138 against Australia is his first overseas century since May 2010 when he scored back-to-back centuries against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka at Bulawayo. Raina’s only overseas ton came against England in August 2014 but has the best strike rate of 96.73. 

Players	Matches	Runs	Average	Strike Rate
Virat Kohli	77	3094	48.34	89.31
Rohit Sharma	64	1855	34.35	74.40
Suresh Raina	75	1720	30.71	96.73
MS Dhoni	57	1624	45.11	81.36
R Jadeja	57	978	39.12	88.18

* India’s top 5 ODI Batsmen in overseas and neutral venues since January 29, 2010 (50 or more matches only)

Most Successful

Chaser
Statistically, Kohli can be considered the most successful run-chasers overseas in the last five years. Taking into account batsmen who have been involved in 20 or more successful chases in overseas games since 2010, Kohli tops the charts with 1263 runs at an average of 74.29 including five centuries, five more than any other player in this particular period. He also holds the record for the highest individual score in a successful chase – 183 against Pakistan and has a strike rate of 95.53. Apart from Kohli, the list also includes Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul Haq and Mohammad Hafeez, who play their home games in a neutral venue in the UAE. Rohit and Raina are the only other Indian batsmen to feature in the list having played 20 odd games since 2010 with their respective averages 45 and 61.50.

Player	Matches	Runs	Average	Strike Rate
Virat Kohli	26	1263	74.29	95.53
Mohammad Hafeez	30	971	35.96	77.49
Misbah ul Haq	29	907	69.76	72.44
AB de Villiers	13*	831	207.75	107.22
Tillkaratne Dilshan	17*	827	55.13	89.21
Rohit Sharma	22	720	45	76.67
Suresh Raina	25	615	61.50	107.89
Younis Khan	20	519	37.07	74.67
Umar Akmal	22	441	63	100.45
Shahid Afridi	24	320	29.09	137.33

* Highest run scorers involved in successful run chases in overseas conditions since January 29, 2010 (20 or more matches only)

South Africa’s AB de Villiers averages at a whopping 207.75, all thanks to his 3 unbeaten centuries against West Indies, New Zealand and Australia.

Pressure

Kohli had a great Test series, perhaps the best for an overseas player in Australian conditions but the team is yet to win a single match and the pressure is growing game after game. Kohli has been India’s mainstay in the last three to five years but even he can succumb to pressure and underperform. In the ongoing tri-series, except for the abandoned match at the SCG, Kohli’s tally in two games is just 15.

 

With the World Cup looming, other experienced batsmen namely Raina and Rohit need to share the burden, while players like Dhoni and R Jadeja possess the skills to finish off games towards the end. Fans expectations are too high and the defending champions need to go all guns blazing if they want to retain the World Cup.