Indian cricket on an impressive trajectory

India’s 3-1 series win against the West Indies in One-Day Internationals (ODIs) has cemented India’s credentials as a strong cricketing nation in current times. As of 29 June 2017, India was ranked first in Tests, third in ODIs and fourth in T20s by the ICC. Under Virat Kohli's captaincy, India were unbeaten in 19 Test matches starting from a 3–0 series win over New Zealand and ending with a 2–1 series win over Australia. But there was disappointment along the way as India lost to archrivals Pakistan in the Champions Trophy after having beaten them comprehensively in the league stage. That this happened while India was riding high came as a big letdown. However, the glorious uncertainties that cricket is famous for manifest themselves from time to time. The fans who start taking victories for granted then are confronted by rude shocks. As of May 2017 India had an unbeaten streak of winning seven consecutive Test series starting with a 2–1 series win over Sri Lanka. India also became only the third team after Australia and South Africa to have won their most recent Test series simultaneously against all the other Test playing nations. As per winning percentage in Test matches, Kohli is India's most successful Test captain having won more than 61 per cent of Test matches (at least 2 games).

While Virat Kohli is now captain of the Indian team in all formats of the game—Tests, ODIs and T20s--- question marks have arisen over the future of two stalwarts who served cricket splendidly –former captain M S Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh. Dhoni’s reflexes as a batsman have inevitably waned with age but he continues to be the country’s best wicket-keeper. Yuvraj is a pale shadow of his earlier self and his continuance in the team is in serious doubt. It is indeed heartening that new players are coming up strongly especially noteworthy being Hardik Pandya, pacemen Jaspreet Bumrah and Mohammad Shami and offbreak bowler Kedar Jadhav. There are many others waiting in the wings and some in the team who are fighting to retain their place. While Kohli’s captaincy will continue to be under watch with his impressive record so far to some extent compromised by his mercurial temperament, the future of the team appears bright with many stars in the side not the least of which is Virat Kohli himself. That the Indian women’s cricket team is showing encouraging results at the international level is indeed a big bonus for Indian cricket.