Rohit-Dhawan the best opening pair in world cricket when in form, feels former Indian cricketer

Team India created history with their recent win in the fifth ODI of the ongoing 6-match ODI series against South Africa. With the win, they sealed the series, which is their first on the South African soil. The cricket fraternity has been showering praises on the Indian side. On the eve of the final ODI, former Indian cricketer Kris Srikkanth also joined the list of well wishers.

As per the recent quotes in the Times of India, Kris Srikkanth remarked that the achievement of the Indian team is indeed great. Only two teams have managed to beat South Africa in their own den over the years and to be one among them, is truly special. Now, Srikkanth hopes that the team finished on a high with a win in the final ODI and then follow up the good form in the shortest format of the game as well.

“Winning a bilateral series for the first time in South Africa is no easy feat. India is only the second team (Australia, twice) to beat the African nation in a five-match ODI series in their own den. This stat alone should put things in perspective. They are not an easy team to beat at home and full credit to the Indian team for coming back strongly after that rare defeat at the Wanderers,” Kris Srikkanth quoted.

“A good last game and success in the T20 series to follow, will rightly perch the Indian team right at the top in terms of confidence for the tougher assignments in future and the World Cup in particular. This result has proved beyond doubt that India has all the ammunition to be successful in all conditions in this format. I am sure this is the start of many good things to come for this confident, young and fit Indian side,” he added.

Enormity of the wins

Speaking further on the same lines, Kris Srikkanth pointed out that the wins have been enormous ones. The margin for victories clearly indicates how brutal the Indian side has been in their approach in the series. Also, the former cricketer reckons that the scoreline of 5-1 will be a perfect sum up of their dominant show.

“What has stood out in the series has been the manner in which the wins have been secured. The margins have been massive and there has been little scope for SA to even be in the game. This series win also clearly showed who the World No.1 in this format really is. To dislodge the current toppers with such authority augurs well for Indian cricket. At this stage India should not let go of the intensity as a 5-1 score line sounds much sweeter than 4-2,” noted the former cricketer.

On the Indian openers

One of the biggest positives in the series has been the batting of the Indian top order. While the South African team has largely struggled to get their act going in the top order, the Indian side has managed to score runs in that department. Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli have been fantastic throughout the series.

Rohit Sharma’s poor form was a cause of concern but in the previous game, even Rohit smashed a match winning hundred. Kris Srikkanth rightly remarked that the Indian opening duo of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan is the most deadly opening pair in world cricket at the moment, whenever both of them are in form.

“As usual practice in this series, this win also threw a few positives for Virat Kohli. It was vital for Rohit Sharma to find some form. He is one of the better white-ball batsmen going around the world at the moment and his form is crucial to India’s chances in Australia and England,” said Srikkanth.

“If both Dhawan and Rohit are in form, they are easily the toughest opening pair to bowl to in world cricket. Add the left-right combination with Virat to follow, and India should be waiting for games to start,” he added further.

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