Virender Sehwag admitted the planning for the world cup final began exactly one year ago at Dambulla. However the foundation plan that led to India’s world cup victory was scripted more than 5 years ago. The plan was based around India’s necessity to chase down large totals, especially in home conditions.
Chasing totals has always been a thorn for Indian teams in the past. Any successful chase above 250 in the last decade was considered memorable. Victories against Pakistan at Dhacca in 1998 at Independence cup final, Sachin master class against Australia at Sharjah in 1998, Kaif and Yuvraj coming of age at the Natwest final in 2002, incredible chase of 326 against West Indies in Ahmedabad in 2002, and offcourse the famous world cup 2003 chase against Pakistan at Centurion. Although memorable there were far and few in between ten years of constant cricket.
If Greg Chappell is to be given any credit, it will be for identifying this issue and devising a strategy to address this problem. He realised that the Indian middle order failed to close off games despite brilliant starts from the top order.
The answer to this shortcoming centred on Rahul Dravid, the stalwart batsman of the Indian middle order. Batting alongside him were two aggressive stroke makers in M.S. Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh. Dravid would pick up singles and frequently rotate the strike, something that suited his style of batting perfectly. Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh, on the other hand were called upon to take risks. As time progressed, this game plan was imbibed into Yuvraj Singh and Dhoni, who found themselves adjusting their batting according to the situation, thus broadening their batting skills and providing them with much needed confidence to dictate the middle overs.
It’s said that the strength of a philosophy is tested in the absence of the philosopher. Even after Dravid’s departure, the knowledge and experience of Yuvraj Singh and Dhoni made them a formidable pair in the middle order. Both batsmen have since guided India to numerous victories and now can be aptly called, “The Chasing Masters.”
Furthermore, the likes of Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli were thrown into the deep end to ensure this method was conveyed to the next generation. Raina in just his 4th innings against Sri Lanka in 4th ODI, 2006 at Pune, scored a composed 38 not out and helped India chase down 262. Then again in his 6th and 8th innings against Pakistan and England respectively he scored 35 not out and 81 not out to ensure India got home. The second of these innings in Faridabad coming in at 4/80, young Raina helped India run down target of 268 in 2006.
While Virat Kholi batting at number 3, scored a classy 79 not out helping India overhaul a 175 against West Indies. The innings received special praise as it was against Kemar Roach on bouncy Wanderers track during the Champions Trophy in 2009. Kohli averaged significantly higher whenever India batted second. He scored his first two hundreds while chasing big targets. The first hundred came whilst chasing over 315, coming in at 2/23 after India lost Sehwag and Tendulkar early on against Sri Lanka in 4th ODI at the Eden Gardens. Kohli further topped that effort scoring 118 to run down a 289 against Australia last year in Vizag.
The secret behind it was to have calm and calculated stroke play. It is easy to panic and attempt the big shot when the required rate is seen hovering at 8 per over, but as the Indian middle order will now advise, it takes only one big over and one settled batsman to change the fortunes of a match.
Results are there to be seen as India chased down targets in 16 successive games when batting second in 2005/06. India’s record chasing a target over 250 also improved significantly. India’s record of 26 wins and 9 loses while chasing over 250, is now rated the best in the world.
Confidence instilled in the middle allowed the top order to bat with further freedom. In fact even the top order was able to finish off matches. Tendulkar batted through the innings against Australia in the 1st ODI final of Commonwealth bank series in Sydney, 2007. Then in late 2009 at Eden Gardens against Sri Lanka in the 4th ODI, Gambhir remained unbeaten on 150 as India chased mammoth 315.
During this period of 5 years the team attained self confidence and security that must have given Gary Kirsten confidence at 2/31 in World Cup Final. Finally, all this hard work and belief was paid off when on the biggest stage India has managed “to chase down” the World Cup.
