Rahul Dravid’s Half Century, Kohli’s Century Lift Them to 304/6 at Ind Eng ODI 5 Half Time

The fifth India England ODI at Cardiff saw rain delay the start of play. But thereafter even a lovely rainbow graced the skies as Rahul Dravid made his final innings in ODI cricket for India count as did the young firebrand, Virat Kohli, taking India to a strong score at half time.

Virat Kohli, Rahul Dravid

The match was inconsequential in terms of the series which England had already sealed the series in the previous match to the delight of the England ODI captain, Alastair Cook. However, the captain would not have wanted his team to let up given that England will return the ODI series when they tour India later in the year.

For Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the Indian captain, this was the final opportunity to walk away with even just one win on a tour that had seen them sink in the eyes of the cricket world. To add to the otherwise doleful situation was the fact that Rahul Dravid, was playing his 344th and final ODI as he would officially retire from ODI and Twenty20 cricket, having served India gracefully over the fifteen year span. With that in mind, it gave the Indian team the opportunity to talk up the situation of having a reason to win this match – the cliché – give Rahul Dravid a fitting farewell, even though it has been Dravid trying to prevent England from showing India the door or rather slamming the door in their face.

Parthiv Patel and Ajinkya Rahane got India past a half century after India were asked to bat first. However, the fall of the two wickets with the score on fifty-seven could have opened up the door for India to cave in. Really? With Rahul Dravid at the crease?

The thirty-eight year old forged a crucial partnership with Virat Kohli and between the duo, the perilous situation was turned into one that India could actually write home about. It would have been a fairytale ending had Dravid actually made a century to go with his twelve from his ODI career. However, his sixty-nine runs were just as important in the 170 run partnership for the third wicket that put India in the ascendancy.

It was important though that this series was not just about Dravid. In that light, Virat Kohli’s innings may have come late on tour but it would have certainly helped the team feel better in the dressing room. Kohli has already established himself as the new guard. But he needed an innings like this that he is ready to step which is why he made the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 squad in the first place. His century, combined with Dravid’s strong presence ensured that India were not giving up the tour without a fight and furthermore challenging England to stay on their toes with little to pursue.

That partnership propelled India to 220 before it was time for England to strike back with Graeme Swann striking twice in two overs post the forty over mark with Dravid bowled and Kohli unfortunate to be out hit wicket. However, the skipper hit a quickfire half century, in only half the number of balls perhaps in preparation for the Chennai Super Kings in the Champions League Twenty20 2011 as India went past the 300 to post a target of 305 for England to chase, weather permitting of course.