Virat Kolhi and Qualifying attempts

Virat Kolhi has become a host hold name for cricket fans not only from India, but all over the globe. He has cemented his place in India’s batting line-up and he is seen as Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s successor going all the way to lead the Indian Cricket Team. His records speak for themselves and he has delivered with consistency. The sheer dominance with which he plays his innings has mesmerized critics and columnists. Lets see his last three “stand-out” innings:

1. 133* at Hobart versus Sri Lanka, CB Series 2011/12

India were battling to make it to the Finals, which would have been a best of 3 Finals. Chasing against Sri Lanka, the Indians had to reach the target of 321 in 36.4 overs to keep their chances alive for qualifying for the finals. Virat Kolhi played a dominating innings of 133* at a strike rate of 150+ making sure that the chances of India qualifying for the finals are not let down. In the following match, Sri Lanka won comfortably against Australia, thus eliminating India.

2. 183 at Mirpur versus Pakistan, Asia Cup 2012

India were in a similar situation, needed to defeat Pakistan to keep their chances alive for the qualifying for the finals. Kolhi again got his “A Game” and smashed 183 off 148 balls having two crucial partnerships with Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma which kept India’s chances alive. Bangladesh won the next game against Sri Lanka and qualified for the finals to face Pakistan.

3. 56* at Bengaluru versus Chennai Super Kings, IPL 2013

RCB, having had a “mid season low performances” similar to previous seasons were needing to win with a big margin to boast their run rate in the race of making it to the qualifiers. For few hours, their chances were looking like being washed out due to rains, but the match official approved of an 8 over a side match. Kolhi, literary lead from the front by promoting himself as an opener and played a captain’s knock of 56* which included six boundaries and four 6s. RCB’s chances were kept alive for that night atleast, till Kolkata Knight Riders lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad, in turn taking away RCB’s chances of qualifying for the last four.

Apart from the unfortunate results in the next games in all these three instances, there is one common thing, which talks loud about Kolhi and his performances in qualifying situations. Whenever the situation has demanded, he has taken the task on himself and delivered. All the three situation didn’t see Kolhi’s team qualifying, but this doesn’t allow us to take away the credit that he demands for his performances.

Champions Trophy 2013, a tournament where top 2 teams from 2 groups make it to the semi-finals, could have a similar situation. Now it is a jinx which he would very much interested to wipe out, by making sure his team doesn’t find itself again in such situations where they have to be at the mercy of result of some other preceding match in the tournament to move forward.

Jay Ashar

Truly a “Digital Native”, foodie, avid cook, enthusiastic marathon runner, bollywood buff, huge fan of SRT, writer – Published my first book “From Mumbaicha Vadapav to Hyderabadi Biryani”

AboutJay Ashar

Truly a "Digital Native", foodie, avid cook, enthusiastic marathon runner, bollywood buff, huge fan of SRT, writer - Published my first book "From Mumbaicha Vadapav to Hyderabadi Biryani"