10 Years of Resurgent Indian Cricket

2010s decade started with a bang for Indian cricket. The team led by charismatic Mahendra Singh Dhoni, with his uncanny techniques, tasted quite a lot success in the shorter formats. 

2011, the Cricket World Cup returned to Indian sub-continent and there was a likely chance of India winning the cup, knowing home conditions well. April 2, 2011, 120 crore Indians lived the dream after 28 years of wait. A memory for lifetime.

2013, India added another feather in the cap. ICC Champions trophy, aka mini world cup. India won by defeating the tournament favourites England. Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Indian cricket achieved almost everything which was required in the big stage arena. Team was doing well in the shorter formats amid some hiccups in the 2014 & 2016 T-20 World Cup tournaments.

The first half of the decade which got many laurels for the team in the white ball cricket, the journey in the red ball cricket had been topsy-turvy. After becoming the Test no.1 team in 2010 under Dhoni captaincy, the upcoming foreign tours were nightmare. Losses in England in 2014, Australia in 2011 & South Africa, marked a blot in the Dhoni’ s tenure where critics started to question his ability. Then came a shocking retirement in test cricket by MSD, passing on the baton to young Kohli mid-tour down-under.

2015, Virat Kohli took over the captaincy, in test cricket from MSD, and he was clear in his mindset from the word go. Bowlers win you the test matches, you need to pick 20 wickets. There was kind of resurgence in the Indian Test Cricket Team post 2015. The domestic circuit started to produce some good high quality fast bowlers. Talents like Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Umesh Yadav & the old workhorse Ishant Sharma took over the responsibility and yielded good results.

India was dominating the one-day circuit as continued from the first half of the decade. Though 2017 & 2019 ICC tournaments have not gone in our favour, still the team has balanced unit and good bench strength to backed upon and are continuing their great performance.

The main highlight for this decade, especially in the later half has been the bowling unit. They have been hunting in pairs, frightening the batsman, creating unrest in their mind. Jasprit Bumrah has completely bamboozled the cricket fraternity with his unconventional yet highly effective bowling action. Bowling stars have been inspirational for the younger generations to come. Due to their hard work, India won their first ever test series in Australia, came close to winning in South Africa and in England.

Overall it has been a good period for India cricket. There has been good domestic performances and players are working tirelessly to don the Indian jersey. We hope for a good future ahead of Indian cricket and probably bringing back the T20 World Cup in 2020/21 and One Day World Cup home in 2023.

Madhurendra Kumar for DieHard Cricket Fans