They are getting so consistent in their batting that it is difficult to see India lose too many one-day matches in the coming seasons. Both have worked hard, Yuvraj has cut down considerably on the high-risk cuts and flicks in the initial stages of building an innings, and is playing straighter than before. He has learnt to shift gears very smartly towards the end, and then lets loose and collars the attack. Dhoni too is playing very straight, mostly. Once in a while he will hook savagely, and cut viciously, but most of his runs are flowing down the ground. Both are good at finding gaps, both score rapidly, and as statistics will reveal, they score more than half their runs in boundaries. The strike-rate and average in recent matches has been fantastic. In fact, Dhoni’s is the best in the world.
| Take a look at their records in the last 11 one-day internationals
(ODIs) and last five Test matches they have played. The wicket-keeper batsman has scores of 183 not out (highest in the world by a wicket-keeper), 45
n.o., 0, 80, 17, 14, 12, 68, 72 not out, 2 not out, 77 not out. It is clear Dhoni likes to finish matches, or stay till the very end, the high percentage of not outs is an indication that he will protect his wicket with a great deal of passion. In all, Dhoni totalled 570 runs from 502 deliveries at a strike rate of 113.54 and a batting average of 95. In fact against Sri Lanka, Dhoni’s strike rate stood at 119.31 and his average at an astounding 115.33. |
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The other happy sign for Team India is that Dhoni got 61.05 per cent of his runs (348 out of 570) in boundaries. There were 57 fours and 20 beautifully struck sixes. Also, in the last five Test matches that he has played (out of a total of six), Dhoni has got a hundred, a fifty and a score of 49. He’s certainly looking good for the future. He is the biggest batting gain for India in the last three months.
Yuvraj’s scores are equally impressive. The
left-hander sparked up things in his last 11 one day
matches with scores of 79 not out, 0 not out, 103, 4 not
out, 53, 49, 39, 82 not out, 79 not out, 37, 107 not out.
He’s amassed 632 runs from 694 balls with a very
impressive strike rate of 91.06 and a world class average
of 126.4. It is ability to remain unbeaten in the end, a
trait that Dhoni is displaying in ample measure, that’s
helping Yuvraj maintain such a fantastic average.
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What has also undoubtedly got the
turnstiles moving and the cash registers ringing
is Yuvraj’s ability to entertain in every big
knock he plays. Of the 632 runs, 358 (56.64 per
cent) came in boundaries. There were 76 fours, and
nine sweetly timed sixes that were such a treat
for the eyes that you can watch the replays for
the rest of the year and not tire. And for a man
who was not considered a Test class batsman till
very recently, Yuvraj Singh hit two 50s, a
century, and notched a score of 45 in his last
five Test matches.
There you are. Two men who wear their
confidence on their shirt sleeves, pack tremendous
punch in their shots, do not like to throw their
wicket away, and importantly, win India matches. |
Savour them. The statisticians are delighting. And the world’s acknowledging their presence.
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