Kohli’s India a cut above the rest

After six games, five wins, one no result and one foot firmly planted on the semis - this has been a very impressive World Cup campaign so far for team India. 

They have found runs from their top order, and wickets from their strike bowlers.

They have had two key players injured - Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and Shikar Dhawan, whose tournament has ended - but the backup has been more than adequate, if not better.

All is well in the Blue team, but they still have three games left to play - a faltering England, a resurgent Bangladesh, and an unpredictable Sri Lanka - where they will start as favourites.

Captain Virat Kohli has started to get consistent scores - 82,77,67 and 72 - being his last four knocks.

Vice-captain Rohit Sharma has been in excellent form and focus too at the top, already scoring two big centuries against South Africa and Pakistan and looks good for a few more. 

Although none of the Indian bowlers have been among the top of the wickets list, they have all kept excellent economies and they lead that list. 

Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvaneshwar, and Kuldeep Yadav all have economies of around 4.5 and Mohammad Shami, who has replaced the injured Bhuvaneshwar, has an economy of 3.46 and an impressive eight wickets in two games to his tally.

One can argue that their middle order, which has Kedar Jadhav and Vijay Shankar lack the experience and batting pedigree of the top order, and that can be toppled by quality bowling, which may be true. 

But the batting line-up has depth and experience down the order with MS Dhoni and one of the most dangerous big-hitters in Hardik Pandya.

But what gives this team the added extra is Dhoni’s presence and experience of winning a World Cup. 

He was criticised for batting too slow at times but in the end his unbeaten fifty ensured India had a competitive total of 267 on a difficult surface against the West Indies on Thursday.

"He is one guy in the middle who always sends out a message for the team. 'I think this is the par score on this pitch.' Understanding how our bowlers bowl as well, he has such a keen understanding of the game. So he is always giving us feedback, in terms of 'okay 260 is a good score, 265 is a good score.' So that we don't look at 300 and end up getting 230,” Kohli explained in the post-match press-conference.

With Kohli, India have traditionally been a team that is excellent at chasing, but their wins against Australia, West Indies, Pakistan and Afghanistan show that they have the bowling to defend a total, even if it’s below par. 

It’s scary to think that the talented wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant didn’t make the squad and was only included once Shikhar Dhawan, another hero with the bat for India in recent ICC tournaments, was injured and ruled of this World Cups.

While the race for the top four is heating up, India - having played one less game than the other teams - is becoming the team to beat and has so far played the best and most consistent cricket. 

Whether they can be beaten though, remains a big question.