How to dismiss India’s top order

By Patrick Noone, CricViz analyst

KL Rahul: Full inswingers

Rahul can be targeted with the full inswinger aimed at his stumps. His strike-rate to balls that swing in is just 48.71 and he averages 10.50 against balls from seamers that are going on to hit the stumps. A fraction short of yorker length is the optimum length for seamers to bowl – Rahul’s strike rate is just 20.63 and his average 6.50 to balls in that area.

Rohit Sharma: Away movement

Rohit is most vulnerable to balls that seam or swing away early in his innings. His strike-rate against away-swingers is 52.90, and to balls that move away off the pitch, he scores at just 70.83. A left-arm seamer can therefore attack him from over the wicket, angling the ball across him – Rohit has been dismissed five times by left-arm seam and scores at a strike rate of just 56.20. Rohit has only twice been dismissed by spin, but he can be restricted, again by balls that turn away.

Virat Kohli: Good length from in-seamers

The captain does not have many weaknesses, but your best option is to try to get the ball to nip back in to him – his strike rate against in-seamers is 60.97. However, it is important to not bowl too full, as his strike-rate to balls on that length against seam is 143.26. If the ball is swinging, Kohli is weaker when it moves away.

MS Dhoni: Slower balls

Slower balls are a good attacking option to Dhoni early in his innings. He averages 10.50 against balls below 75mph and has a strike rate of just 75 against those balls. Alternatively, bowling spin to Dhoni restricts him (strike-rate of 60.73, 80.21 v seam) but he is harder to dislodge with spin than seam – spinners dismiss him every 108 balls, seamers every 38.

Vijay Shankar: Good length outside off

Shankar likes to get off to fast starts, but can be slowed down significantly by seamers hitting a traditional good length. Against balls that are full or short, he strikes at 100 and 105 respectively, but to balls in an in between area, 58.06. When hitting that length, aim for outside off stump where he strikes at 67.50.

Kedar Jadhav: In-seamers on the stumps

Jadhav is another who scores very quickly from the start of his innings. He can be best tied down by seamers bowling a tight stump-to-stump line, ideally with the ball seaming in towards him. His strike rate to balls seaming in is 69.23, while to balls on his stumps it is 80.39, lower than the 141.50 he scores at if you bowl wide outside his off stump.

Hardik Pandya: Tight outside off – and no spin

Hardik averages 73.00 against spinners in the early part of his innings and strikes at 136.87. Against seam, his strike rate against away swingers is 92.59 and against balls that seam away it is 85.91. Those are still pretty big numbers, but it is the preferable option.