Top 10 moments of Indian Cricket Team in 2018

The year 2018 ended on a happier note for the Indian Cricket Team as they won the MCG Test against Australia. 2018 proved to be one of the best years for the Indian side as Virat Kohli’s men dominated their oppositions worldwide.

The Indian team completely outplayed their opponents on the home turf and also improved their records overseas during this year. The past 12 months saw the Indian team rise to newer heights. 2019 also started on a good note for the Indian side as India won its first ever Test series on Australia soil.

There were lots of cheerful moments for team India in 2018 which will remain in the hearts of every Indian fan forever. Here are the top 10 moments of the Indian Cricket Team in 2018.

---

#10 Virat Kohli breaking the record for the most runs scored in a bilateral series

Virat Kohli emerged as the most successful ODI player in 2018

Virat Kohli had already established his name as a legendary one in terms of cricket even before 2018. However, the year 2018 added more wings to his records as he conquered one more record during that year. He became the highest run-scorer in a bilateral series.

Kohli achieved this feat during the bilateral ODI series between India and South Africa which was played on the South African turf. In spite of playing an away series, the Indian skipper completely outclassed fast bowlers like Rabada to end the series by scoring 558 runs in just 6 matches. He scored 3 centuries in that series, with the 160* being his best innings of 2018.

#9 Ajinkya Rahane calling the Afghanistan team for a photo with the trophy

Ajinkya Rahane called the Afghanistan team for a group photograph after their first ever Test

The Afghanistan team played their first ever test match against India in 2018 after being granted Test status by the ICC in June 2017. However, they didn’t finish on the winning side as the Indian team won the match. But stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane won the hearts of the Afghanistan side with a heart-warming gesture after the match.

Rahane was captaining the Indian side during this test match and he proved why he is called the gentleman on the cricket field. He called the entire Afghanistan team to have a photo with the trophy in spite of losing the match by an innings and 262 runs as it was their first ever Test match.

#8 MS Dhoni played his 500th International match in 2018

MS Dhoni played the 500th international match in his career

Since 2007, a drastic change has been witnessed in the Indian Cricket Team and its level of play. The main reason for it is MS Dhoni. He has enriched India from all the corners by making it one of the best cricket teams of the world.

Popularly known as Mahi, MS Dhoni has been rewarded with almost each and every trophy existing in the cricketing world. There isn’t a single trophy which MS Dhoni hasn’t lifted so far in his career. Even currently, in spite of being 36 years old, he is still one of the fittest players of team India.

MS Dhoni played the 500th International match of his career in the year 2018. His 500th match was a T20 match between India and England. He is only the 3rd Indian cricketer to achieve this feat after Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid.

#7 The Indian team dedicated their victory at Trent Bridge to Kerala flood victims

The Indian side dedicated their victory at Trent Bridge to Kerala flood victims

The Indian team has been well known for its positive attitude both on and off the field. Virat Kohli added his touch to this legacy with a pleasant gesture during the Test series against England in August.

The Indian side didn’t manage to win the Test series against England in 2018 but they did something which pleased the Indian fans. Kohli and his team dedicated their victory against England in the Trent Bridge Test to the victims which were affected by a devastating flood in Kerala.

The Indian team won that match by 203 runs in which Virat Kohli scored 97 and 103 runs in his 2 innings. Virat showed a positive gesture by dedicating his innings and that victory to the people who suffered from the flood which occurred in Kerala. They even donated their match fees to the Kerala flood relief funds.

#6 Indian team walking with Sri Lankan flag after Nidahas Trophy final

Team India won the Nidahas trophy final against Bangladesh

The Nidahas Trophy can be hailed as the most thrilling and exciting tournament for the Indian side and the fans cheering for the team. The last ball win for team India, courtesy some heroics from Dinesh Karthik’s bat will cherish in the hearts of cricket lovers forever. However, after the match, one more thing which won the hearts of the spectators was the kindness of Rohit Sharma and his team.

Rohit, after lifting the Nidahas Trophy, walked on the ground with the Sri Lankan flag on his shoulders to provide applause for the audience. Sri Lanka conducted the triangular series called as Nidahas Trophy inviting India and Bangladesh to celebrate its 70th year of independence.

India and Bangladesh made it to the finals where India won the match on the last ball with a six by Dinesh Karthik. Rohit’s celebration with the Sri Lankan flag after that win became a very prestigious moment of 2018.

#5 A dream debut for Prithvi Shaw

Prithvi Shaw scored a ton on Test debut

The year 2018 was a dream year for the Indian Test side as they got two new talented openers in the squad - Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal. Prithvi Shaw made his Test debut against the mighty West Indian side on 4th October 2018 as the 293rd Test player for India.

Prithvi Shaw had one of the best starts to his international career as he scored a ton in his debut match scoring 134 runs in the 1st innings. Shaw became the second youngest cricketer to score a century for India in Tests (only after Sachin Tendulkar).

Despite being very young, Shaw’s talent and the vision of not to give up earned him a national call-up. He utilized his chance in the best possible way and if everything goes right, he could even become the permanent opener for team India in all 3 formats.

#4 Dhoni captaining India for the 200th time in ODIs

MS Dhoni got the chance to captain team India in Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's absence

When the talk comes to captaincy, MS Dhoni has got one of the sharpest minds in the history of cricket. So far, he has one of the best captaincy records in cricket. No one can beat him when it comes to using unique techniques and skills. He has mastered his art of remaining calm even in the toughest situation which makes him a better captain than others.

MS Dhoni was given the chance to captain India in absence of the current skipper Virat Kohli and the vice-captain, Rohit Sharma. Before MS Dhoni stepped down from the captaincy, he captained India for the total of 199 matches in ODIs, being just 1 ODI short of the 200 mark.

However, he reached the 200 figure mark during the Asia Cup match between India and Afghanistan in 2018. This ODI will be remembered by fans for a long time for 2 reasons, the first being MS Dhoni’s 200th ODI as a captain and the second being Afghanistan’s fighting attitude which inspired them to play a tied match with India.

#3 Dhoni advising Rohit to let Khaleel Ahmed hold the Asia Cup trophy

Khaleel Ahmed lifted the Asia Cup Trophy alongside skipper Rohit Sharma

The 21-year-old left arm Indian pacer, Khaleel Ahmed made a promising debut in the year 2018. Khaleel made his ODI debut in the Asia Cup. With his ability to swing the ball in both the directions, he has the talent to become the next Zaheer Khan or the next Ashish Nehra for the Indian team in the coming years.

The young seamer from Rajasthan had a very bright domestic season which earned him the national call-up and a chance to wear the blue jersey for his nation. Khaleel emerged as one of the main strike bowlers for India during the Asia Cup 2018. Though, he did not play a huge role in India’s triumph, Khaleel Ahmed won the hearts of the fans with his dedication towards the game.

As an appreciation to his effort, during the presentation ceremony, MS Dhoni advised Rohit Sharma to give the trophy to Khaleel as it was his first trophy. This touched the hearts of the Indian cricket fans.

#2 India winning their first ever ODI series on South African soil

The Indian team won the first ever ODI series on South African soil in the year 2018

Currently, South Africa is the only country which is giving a tough competition to the Indian team in terms of cricket. So far, the Indian boys have never won a test series on the South African soil and it is the only solitary country where India has never won a test series. However, the Indian team also didn’t have an ODI series win on the South African turf before 2018.

Virat Kohli and his company broke this record in the year 2018 by registering their first ODI series win over the African side in South Africa. The Indian boys lifted the trophy after defeating South Africa in 5 out of the 6 matches. Along with captaining the Indian side, Virat Kohli emerged out as the leading run scorer from that series among both the teams as well.

#1 Dinesh Karthik's game-changing knock in Nidahas trophy final

Dinesh Karthik single-handedly won the Nidahas Trophy for India

The best moment of the Indian Cricket Team from 2018 was the nail-biting victory of Nidahas Trophy final thanks to Dinesh Karthik’s whirlwind innings. Dinesh Karthik won the hearts of millions of fans with his last ball six which helped India clinch the title. This match could even be stated as the most thrilling and exciting match of the year 2018.

India and Bangladesh met in the final of the triangular series between India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh known as the Nidahas Trophy. Batting first, Bangladesh gave the target of 167 runs for India to win the trophy. This target earlier seemed easy for the Indian boys but later on became a tough task due to the sudden collapse of the batting order which slowed down the innings’ run rate. The equation came down to 34 runs off 12 balls as Bangladesh looked all set to upset team India.

Karthik took 22 runs from the 19th over as the match went on till the last ball with India requiring 5 runs from 1 ball with Dinesh Karthik at the batting crease. The Indian wicket-keeper pulled off a crazy six over the covers which sealed the trophy for India making it as the best moment of the year 2018.