3 instances when India's middle order won the match in 2018-19

India's middle order finally seems to have come of age lately. India has tried as many as 20 players from No.4 to No.6 after the 2015 World Cup, but none of the players have really been able to make an impact or book his berth to England with certainty.

However, the recent stats suggest otherwise. India's middle order has been bailing the side out of tough situations in pressure cooker situations.

Indian batsmen's average since the start of 2019 (ODIs)

MS Dhoni - 150.5

Kedar Jadhav - 99.5

Virat Kohli - 49.28

Vijay Shankar - 45

Rohit Sharma - 43.44

Ambati Rayudu - 37.83

Let's quickly take a quick glance where the middle order has bailed India out of trouble and won them the game in the recent past.

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#3. India vs Bangladesh - Asia Cup Final, 2018 (Dubai)

Bangladesh v India

It was expected to be a walk in the park for the World's No. 2 ODI side. They were in ravishing form throughout the tournament, winning without a dropping a sweat.

In the final match of the tournament, Bangladesh were put in to bat by Rohit Sharma and they managed a mere 222. In India's reply, Rohit Sharma was looking in ominous touch upfront as he had already deposited 3 balls into the stands. However, India were reduced to 83-3 in the 17th over and run scoring was getting increasingly difficult.

It felt Bangladesh would finally break their jinx, but the untested Indian middle order had other plans. Each and everyone contributed in the low scoring game with Dinesh Karthik and Dhoni scoring 37 and 36 respectively.

Kedhar Jadhav who got retired hurt in the chase, came out to bat under tremendous pressure and pain. He scored a calm and composed 23*, scoring the winning run off the last ball of the match.

Brief scores

India (223-7 in 50 overs, Rohit 48, Karthik 37, Dhoni 36, Mustafizur 2-38, Rubel 2-26) beat Bangladesh (222 all out, Liton Das 121, Soumya Sarkar 33, Kuldeep 3-45, Jadhav 2-41) by 3 wickets

#2. India vs Australia, 2019 (Hyderabad)

Dhoni hit the winning runs for India

Australia were coming after sweeping India 2-0 in the recently concluded T20I series in India. They were high on confidence and had the momentum with them. Batting first, they put on 236 on a slow Hyderabad wicket.

For India, Shami returned with figures of 2-44 and India looked set to chase it with ease. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli got starts but no-one could convert it into a big one, and soon India were 99-4 in 24 overs. Australia were well on top.

India had not much batting to come after the pair of Dhoni and Jadhav. The duo had the responsibility of bailing India out of trouble. They started taking calculative risks and never let the run rate go out of hands.

Both of them took some time to get their eye in. Once they were set, they started to go for their shots. The pair stitched a 141* run partnership guiding India home in a well-calculated chase. Jadhav was also adjudged the man of the match for his 81*

Harsha Bhogle was also quick to acknowledge the Indian middle order as he said, "This is a very satisfying win for India because it was achieved without a defining performance from the top order."

Brief scores

India (240-4 in 48.2 overs, Jadhav 81*, Dhoni 59*, Kohli 44, Coulter-Nile 2-46, Zampa 2-49) beat Australia (236-7 in 50 overs, Khawaja 50, Maxwell 40, Shami 2-44, Kuldeep 2-46) by 6 wickets

#1. India vs New Zealand, 2019 (Wellington)

New Zealand v India - ODI Game 5. India clinched the ODI series 4-1

The biggest test for the Indian middle order came in Wellington vs New Zealand. Although it was a dead rubber, it was crucial going into the World Cup. Virat Kohli was rested for the last two ODIs and India were coming after an embarrassing loss at Hamilton in the 4th ODI where the team got bundled out for 92 on a lively wicket.

The blackcaps, having found India's weakness in the 4th ODI, went in for a green top once again. The plan seemed to work for the Kiwis as India were left reeling at 18-4. Matt Henry and Trent Boult ran through the Indian top order with a perfect exhibition of swing bowling. This brought Ambati Rayudu and Vijay Shankar to the crease. The duo went in with a carefully crafted plan to bat out the 50 overs and give the bowlers something to ball at.

They partnered each other for 98 runs before Shankar got run out. Jadhav chipped in with 34 before Hardik Pandya's mad rush (45 off 22) meant India crossing the 250 mark with Rayudu scoring a composed 90 off 113 balls.

Indian bowlers got wickets at crucial times bowling the Kiwis out for 217. Chahal was the pick of the bowlers sending three Kiwi batsmen back to the pavilion, conceding just 41. With this India wrapped up the series 4-1.

Brief scores

India (252 all out in 49.5 overs, Rayudu 90, Pandya 45, Shankar 45, Henry 4-35, Boult 3-39) beat New Zealand (217 all out, Neesham 44, Williamson 39, Chahal 3-41, Shami 2-35) by 35 runs.