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Can Shikhar Dhawan put a foot wrong? He is the shining star of the current ICC Champions Trophy. Whatever he touches turns to gold, and more importantly, runs.
He was lucky in his innings against Sri Lanka as he was dropped three times during his breezy innings of 68 (off 92 balls, hitting six fours and a six) on Thursday. But this was on a seamy, spinning, spiteful pitch on which Sri Lanka, a strong batting side, could make only 8/181 in 50 overs.
In four Champions Trophy 2013 matches, Dhawan has scored 332 runs, with an amazing average of 110.66 at a strike rate of 99.40. No one else has touched 300, with Sri Lanka’s master bat Kumar Sangakkara next on the list with 222 runs at 74.00.
England, beware in the final on Sunday!
This is how the Indian moustached-marauder has gone in this tournament: 114 against South Africa, 102 not out against the West Indies, 48 versus Pakistan and now 68 against Sri Lanka. Not even the crowd invaders could disturb his sublime concentration in the semi-final.
Only two batsmen have scored centuries in this Champions Trophy, and Dhawan has hit two. Sangakkara has the top score with an unbeaten 134. Dhawan has smashed 33 fours and three sixes the tournament. No one else has hit 22 fours so far.
It is not just the runs and fours that have put Dhawan so high in my estimations. Remember the magnificent 187 in the Mohali Test, his debut, against Australia in March? It was a masterly innings.
His footwork is near perfect. So is his temperament. When he is dropped, he just smiles and carries on regardless. He is one for the future.
If India wins tomorrow it would be her second most memorable moment in England in three decades ago. In 1983, the little-fancied Indians under Kapil Dev surprised the reigning World Cup champions, the West Indies, in the famous final at Lord’s on 24th June.
Will history repeat itself, as India take on Alastair Cook’s Englishmen on 23rd June, almost 30 years to the day?
England has James Anderson, perhaps the best fast bowler in the tournament. But then India has Ravindra Jadeja, the best spinner. He is the only one to take a five-for (5/36 against the Windies last week). Here are their almost parallel figures for this tournament so far:
Both have taken 10 wickets, Anderson at an average of 12.7 with an economy rate of 3.84 (best figures 3 for 30), with Jadeja averaging 13 with an economy rate of 3.51. Both bowled superbly in their semi-finals.
Watching Jadeja spinning the ball against Sri Lanka on Thursday was like going back to the Shane Warne days, although this may be slightly hyperbolising; no one can match Warney.
Apart from Dhawan, his opening partner Rohit Sharma has been scoring consistently. And there is Virat Kohli as a spectacular middle order batsman and Suresh Raina as an acrobatic fielder and slipper.
In MS Dhoni they have an inspiring leader who can ‘keep, bat, and even bowl. Move over, Sir Garry? Another hyperbole?
The new India also excels in the field, something quite novel in their cricketing history.
Cricket is a funny game but I predict India to win, unless Dhawan’s stroke play and luck dries up.
And a defeat for England before the Ashes is precisely what the Australian team would be praying for.