Reminiscing 5 of the most destructive innings by an Indian in the last decade

In this era of T20s and ODIs, seldom does the number of balls beat the number of runs scored. However, there was a time when scoring at run-a-ball was considered remarkable, slogging was deemed unorthodox and hitting sixes was considered extraordinary. The last decade has seen a major change in batting style, with teams regularly putting up 300 plus in ODIs and even scoring in excess of 4 runs per over in Test Matches .

While the rules have become lenient towards the batsmen these days, one thing that was ever present was the immense power-hitting that is exhibited by players all over the world. Be it in the 1990s or the 21st century, power hitting has always been a part of the game.

Dating back to 1st January 2005, here’s a look at the 5 most destructive performances with the bat by an Indian. The following innings does not take into account the IPL and is based on International matches only.

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#5 Yusuf Pathan – 105 runs from 70 balls (ODI) vs South Africa, Centurion 2011

It’s no surprise that Yusuf Pathan’s name has come up in the list. Always synonymous with brutal hitting, Pathan has quite a few breath-taking stints at the international level. He might have been in and out of the national team, with his last ODI way back in 2012, but when he has performed he has shown the world what he is capable of.

India were reeling at 119 for 8 chasing 268 against one of the best fast-bowling attack in the world at their own den. It was the series decider, and India looked set to lose it thanks to some fiery bowling by Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn. However, the burly Baroda all-rounder had other ideas.

He smashed, slogged, pulled, and belted everything that was bowled at him. He took on the bouncers on his body and pummelled anything full that was in his arc. He tore apart the South African pacers and spinners alike, as he went on to score a groundbreaking century in some of the toughest conditions to give the Proteas an almighty scare. He took just 68 deliveries to reach his milestone, which included 8 monstrous sixes and an equal number of fours.

Even though India eventually went on to lose the match, his innings remains one of the most destructive performance by an Indian overseas.

#4 Virender Sehwag – 293 runs from 254 balls (Test) vs Sri Lanka, Mumbai 2009

The master of entertainers, Virender Sehwag comes fourth on the list. His 293 against Sri Lanka in their 3rd Test match remains one of the most jaw-dropping performance in a Test match by an Indian. Yes, you read that right – in a Test match indeed!

The Nawab of Najafgarh broke several records with this knock, some of them being the fastest ever to score a double century and 250 in Tests. The Lankans had no idea what they had in their fate when they kick-started the match, batting first. They put up 393 in their first innings before they ran into a rampant Sehwag who started punishing them from ball one.

His 293 included as many as 7 sixes and 40 fours. Not a single bowler was spared and he struck at more than run-a-ball against every bowler who bowled at him, except Tillakaratne Dilshan who just delivered 9 deliveries to him. He was particularly severe on Nuwan Kulasekara, whom he hammered for 52 runs off just 39 balls. Rangana Herath was carted over the park four times and even the veteran spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was hit for a couple of sixes.

His innings finally came to an end when he scooped Muralitharan's flighted delivery on the off, back to the bowler. India went on to win that Test by an innings and 24 runs.

#3 Rohit Sharma – 209 runs from 158 balls (ODI) vs Australia, Bangalore 2013

At 3rd is Rohit Sharma’s scintillating double century against the Australians. The only batsman in the world with two ODI double centuries to his name, his maiden 200 was an innings of pure power and demolition.

It was the last of the seven-match series between India and Australia and it the series decider. Put into bat, the Indians got off to a steady start. Rohit Sharma was scoring cautiously, without taking any undue risks as he saw off the first 35 overs scoring at a strike rate of just 91.9. His 100 came off 114 deliveries, which though was special, did not have any hint of the extraordinary that was to follow.

After 41 overs, Sharma had scored 113 from 123 deliveries. They say before every storm there is an eerie calm. Sharma’s innings was an exact manifestation of that saying. From 113 off 123, his innings ricocheted to 150 from 140 deliveries to 200 off 156 deliveries. He struck a record 16 sixes in his act of annihilation, helping India post a mammoth 383 in their 50 overs.

He was dismissed in the last over, but not after he racked up 209 runs from just 158 deliveries. His performance helped India down the Aussies to win the series in the most emphatic way possible.

#2 Mahendra Singh Dhoni – 183 not out from 145 balls (ODI) vs Sri Lanka, Jaipur 2005

The limited overs Indian skipper is one of the most feared cricketers in the world at the moment and he comes second in the list with one such reverential performance.

It was the third ODI between India and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka had set a target of 299 runs for the Indians. Chaminda Vaas removed Sachin Tendulkar in the first over and India were in a spot of bother. Enter a long-haired M.S. Dhoni at number 3. He was in his early days. He was new. He was bold.

A testimony of what he was going to elicit in his future, Dhoni went on to shatter a plethora of records by the end of that match on his way to 183 runs from 145 balls. He started his maniac hitting by launching Vaas over the covers, before thwacking Farveez Maharoof for back to back boundaries. Upul Chandana and Tillakaratne Dilshan were taken on as well and except Muralitharan, Dhoni gave special treatment to every other Sri Lankan bowler.

It was a typical unorthodox Dhoni innings, as he jabbed at deliveries outside off and used his bottom hand to score most of his runs. He gave the world a glimpse of his power, piling 10 sixes in total, at a time, when boundaries were longer, and batting used to be challenging.

Dhoni’s 183 remains one of the most enthralling ODI innings by an Indian in modern limited overs cricket.

#1 Yuvraj Singh – 58 runs from 16 balls (T20I) vs England, Durban 2007

Individual brilliance come and go. But this innings from Yuvraj may not ever be matched. And without doubt, it holds the top position among the most destructive innings by an Indian in the 21st century. Who else has the audacity to hit a frontline bowler of an opposition like England for 6 sixes in an over?

Batting might have become easier these days. Runs might flow like cash in this era of T20. But it is nigh impossible to replicate an innings of this standards. An innings of such brutality and brawn.

In a must-win encounter for India in the inaugural World T20 tournament, Yuvraj Singh walked in to bat at 155 for 3 wickets in 16.4 overs. With newly appointed captain M.S. Dhoni at the other end, it was completely on the duo to help their team put up a competitive score.

Yuvraj Singh was batting on 14 runs when Stuart Broad was asked to bowl the 19th over. However, just before the start of the over the left-handed batsman had an altercation with English all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, which looked to have infuriated Yuvi. What followed thereafter is history.

It started with a 102 metre six over the cow corner as it signalled the first of many. The next ball bowled disappeared beyond backward square leg. The third was heaved over extra cover which was followed by one over backward point. He didn’t stop there as he pasted Broad with two more off his last 2 deliveries, one over midwicket, the other over long on.

He raced to his 50 off an unbelievable 12 deliveries, thereby being the quickest in the world to reach a half century, a record that still holds today. He finished with 58 from 16 balls, at a staggering strike rate of 362.5 which included 7 sixes in total. In the end, India won by 18 runs as they kept their campaign alive.

Several match winning innings have materialized after that, but this remains the greatest exhibition of power hitting in the modern world of cricket.