Four stadiums that India’s World Cup top-order prefer
Amidst all the controversies and celebrations over wins, the pitch on which a record-breaking knock is played goes unnoticed. Every batsman in the world has his/her favourite stadiums which they call as their second home ground. Even this year’s ICC World Cup top-order has their favourite grounds where they’ve knocked double centuries and trained to be called world-class batsmen.
Let’s look at some of our favourites’ favourite stadiums:
Rohit Sharma’s fantasy with Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Over the past decade, the hitman has played some iconic knocks at the venue in all formats of the sport. Rohit Sharma made his Test debut in 2013 at the Eden Gardens and scored a breath-taking 177 against West Indies.
This is the ground where Rohit captained Mumbai Indians for the first time in 2013, in the Indian Premier League and won the title at the same venue. In 2015, Rohit and his men clinched the second IPL title and coincidentally, the final was played at the Eden Gardens.
As a batsman, Rohit Sharma has scored a ton and a 98 not out against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2012 and 2015 IPL respectively. In 2014, he scored the highest of his double centuries of 264 runs against Sri Lanka and holds the world record for the highest individual score in ODIs.
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Shikhar Dhawan’s stats scream Kennington Oval, London
Team India opener Shikhar Dhawan roared with his 17th ODI century in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2019 edition against Australia at Kennington Oval, London on Sunday (June 9).
His 117 gave India the head-start it needed to take the match away from Australia. He has played 5 matches in the ground and has over 400 runs on his name. The magic is different if he has to perform in an ICC event at The Oval.
This was Dhawan’s third ODI century at the Oval in five matches. It was also his fourth 50-plus score at the venue. He became the first Indian to hit four ODI centuries in England.
Also read: India’s victory over Aussies reminiscent of Tolkein’s heroes
Virat Kohli’s blasts runs at Adelaide Oval, Australia
Another run machine whose favourite is the Oval in Adelaide is Indian Captain Virat Kohli. He has performed and enjoyed success as in captaincy exceptionally well at the venue in all formats of the game.
He scored his first hundred in test cricket in 2012 at the Adelaide Oval and thereby cemented his spot in the test team. In the fourth Test, Virat scored 116 in the final Test of a four-match tour in which India was whitewashed.
His return to the venue was as the stand-in Captain of the team. He scored tons in both the innings of the Test match but India fell 48 runs short of a memorable victory.
In the four innings Kohli has batted at Adelaide Oval, he has scored score three centuries. His tally is 394 runs at an average of 98.50, with a highest score of 141.
Also, in India’s first match at the ICC World Cup 2015, Kohli scored a century against Pakistan in Adelaide and was the architect of India’s victory. In 2016, he scored an unbeatable knock of 90 in T20I series when India whitewashed Australia.
Also read: Yuvraj Singh: A triumph of Indian cricket
MS Dhoni’s second home is M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
He is known as the lion of Chepauk stadium; it’s his home away from home. Dhoni enjoys a lot of support and love from the people of Chennai and has played some memorable knocks for Team India and Chennai Super Kings over the years.
The former ‘Captain Cool’ averages 100-plus in One Day Internationals at Chepauk. Dhoni also played his best Test innings when he smashed a stunning 224 off 265 balls against Australia in 2013 at the same venue.
‘Thala’ or the King as people of Chennai call him, made his Test Debut at Chepauk in December 2005 against Sri Lanka. He has been the Captain of the CSK team ever since the first edition of IPL and has enjoyed a lot of success while leading the Franchise.
Chennai Super Kings is one of the most successful teams in the Indian Premier League and Dhoni deserves a lot of credit. Dhoni has a staggering record as CSK captain having played over 140 matches.
CSK have lifted the IPL title thrice (in 2010, 2011 and 2018), and have the best win percentage among all teams in the IPL (61.34). They have appeared in nine IPL playoffs and competed in seven finals. In addition, they have also won the Champions League Twenty20 in 2010 and 2014.
