Internet Desk: It’s been a remarkable year in Indian cricket for both men and women. From reaching the final of the ICC Women’s World Cup to being the unbeaten side in Tests for nine-consecutive series in men’s division, the Indian cricketers have shown splendid performances throughout the year. As the year comes to an end xtratime.in looks back at this successful year of the Indian cricket.
#Reaching the final of ICC Women’s World Cup
India reached the final of the grand event under Mithali Raj’s leadership by beating the mighty Australians in the semi-final. This was the second time that the Women in Blue reached this far, but unfortunately they lost the big final at Lord’s against host England.
#India’s Test series win over Australia
India defeated Australia by eight wickets in the fourth and final cricket Test to claim the four-match series 2-1 at Dharamsala earlier this year. In the first Test in Pune the visitors thumped India by 333 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the series but Virat Kohli led Indian cricket team fought back hard to win the series 2-1.
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#Ashwin and Jadeja became World No.1 and 2 bowlers in ICC Test rankings
Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja became the first pair of spinners to be jointly top-ranked in the ICC Player Rankings for Test Bowlers as Jadeja had caught up with his spin-partner in the rankings earlier in 2017. The last time two bowlers shared the top spot was in April 2008 when Dale Steyn and Muttiah Muralidaran were at the top.
#Jhulan Goswami became top wicket taker in ODI cricket
India’s ace women cricketer Jhulan Goswami added another feather to her cap earlier in May this year. She reached a milestone by becoming the highest wicket taker in ODI’s. The star Bengal bowler dismissed Raisibe Ntozakhe to reach the milestone. She overtook Australia’s Cathryn Fitzpatrick to lead the list of bowlers in women’s cricket. Jhulan now has 195 victims compared to Fitzpatrick’s 180 wickets.
#Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli reached half-century of centuries
On a tough wicket to bat on, Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli scored his 50th international century last month at the Eden Gardens against Sri Lanka during the first Test. The run machine sits at number eighth behind Brian Lara (53), Mahela Jayawardene (54), Hashim Amla (54), Jacques Kallis (62), Kumar Sangakkara (63) Ricky Ponting (71) and iconic Sachin Tendulkar (100), who is the only cricketer to get 100 international hundreds.
#Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s new record behind the stumps
Former India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni created a new world record as he surpassed legendary Sri Lankan wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara’s record for most stumpings in ODI cricket earlier in September. Sangakkara has 99 stumpings in his ODI career.
Sangakkara created this record by playing 404 ODIs, while Dhoni created the new World record with playing only 301 ODIs in comparison.
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#India wins 9 Test series on the trot
The World No.1 Indian Test side beat Sri Lanka earlier this month to win the three-match Test series 1-0 and by doing so the men in Blue equaled Australia’s record of nine consecutive Test series wins.
Australia achieved the record over a period of three years as they unbeaten from October 2005 to June 2008. The top ranked Indian team on the other hand, started their undefeated run from the tour to Sri Lanka in July 2015 which shows they had taken less time than the Aussies.
#Dhoni stepped down from the captaincy of limited overs format
Former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni will always been regarded as one of the best Indian captains of all-time. In the very first month of Januray this year, Dhoni stated to BCCI that he don’t want to continue as Indian limited overs captain and want to concentrate on his batting an keeping.
#India equaled with their biggest win in Test cricket
India registered an emphatic win by innings and 239 runs over Sri Lanka in the second test match at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium in Jamtha earlier in last month. It was India’s biggest win against any side. The victory margin was identical to India s Test victory against Bangladesh at Mirpur in 2007 when Rahul Dravid was captain.
#Rohit Sharma’s record of double centuries
Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma showed the world why he is considered one of the finest modern day openers in ODI cricket after he scored a hat-trick of double century last week.
While Rohit holds the world record score of 264 versus Sri Lanka in Kolkata, he scored his first ever double ton — 209 against Australia in Bengaluru, back in 2013.