Illogical View 09

It was the mastery of the chase, the dominance of Test cricket. The era of Kohli’s searing cover drives. The era of Smith’s unorthodox technique. Kohli’s brilliance across formats. Smith’s resilience in the longest game. India’s star batter—a force of raw aggression. Australia’s anchor—a study in unwavering patience. Kohli is relentless with his run-scoring. Smith, is adaptable under the toughest conditions. Kohli’s strokeplay exuded elegance; Smith’s stance, lethal effectiveness. One wore passion on his sleeve; the other, quiet determination at the crease. Kohli’s devotees tout his versatility; Smith’s advocate, his unrivalled average.

I used to get into debates about 'the greatest' with my friends—it was all fun and games until I took it online with strangers. Things turned toxic quickly, so I walked away.

The “Who is the Greatest?” discourse on social media has spiralled out of control. Definitions of greatness shift with each performance, moulding themselves to personal biases rather than objective facts. It’s no longer about proving who’s better—it’s about tearing down the other.

I was wondering why we even care about this greatness debate. What is it to us if “X” is the greatest player of all time?

What Even is Greatness?

Marcus Aurelius said, “A man’s true greatness lies in the consciousness of an honest purpose in life, founded on a just estimate of himself and everything else, on frequent self-examinations, and a steady obedience to the rule which he knows to be right, without troubling himself about what others may think or say.”

Pursuing greatness is to fulfill one’s self-purpose. It has nothing to do with others opinions and points of view.

So why do we even care?

1. We see ourselves in them.
   Admiration for an athlete or team starts with respect for their craft. Soon, however, it morphs into a mirror of our own beliefs. It becomes less about defending a player and more about defending our identities. Confirmation bias transforms objective analysis into tribal validation.

   We signal others about ourselves through who we follow and revere.

2. We are emotional beings.
   We are feeling machines who think, not thinking machines who feel. Our attachments blur the lines between objective critique and personal sentiment.

The Real Issue: We’re Asking the Wrong Question

Instead of obsessing over who’s the greatest, we should ask: What can we learn from the greats to unlock our potential?

We need to focus on strategy, not just tactics. Debating greatness often turns into a battle of beliefs, where logic takes a backseat to signaling. No wonder seasoned players roll their eyes at the hype around today's teams—they too are out defending their beliefs instead of recognising current generation accolades.

The main aim of the article is to analyse and understand the current Indian white ball team’s success.

A Better Question: What has made this Indian ODI team successful—and is that success built to last?

I wasn’t interested in writing another “Is this the greatest Indian team?” piece. Instead, I asked: What has made this Indian ODI team successful—and is that success built to last?

India’s current dominance is no accident. It’s the result of a clear, calculated strategy.

India boasts unparalleled squad depth—a double-edged sword that fuels both their strength and the pressure on every player. In Indian cricket, losing while daring to be unconventional is unacceptable. Strategy is only as good as its results, and fan impatience looms large. So how did India silence the noise and commit to a bold, new approach?

The Strategy Behind India’s ICC Triumphs

After years of near misses, India broke its ICC trophy drought with a T20 World Cup win, followed by a Champions Trophy triumph. The bedrock? A six-bowler, eight-batter strategy.

The inclusion of Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, and Ravindra Jadeja has balanced the team like never before. You may argue that Axar and Jadeja serve the same role, yet both are vital. Axar’s role as a floater at No. 5—designed to disrupt a monotonous, right-handed batting lineup—was controversial, but it aligned perfectly with the team’s vision. Indeed, it was a bold move to not include Rishabh Pant in the playing 11.

Then came another bold move: for the Champions Trophy 2025, Gambhir and his team backed four spinners, capitalizing on Varun Chakravarthy’s mystery element. With Jasprit Bumrah sidelined and Mohammad Shami underprepared, it was a high-risk call—and one that paid off. Vraun Chakravarty took 9 wickets in just 3 matches.

Batting Philosophy: Intent & Adaptability

Since the 2023 ODI World Cup, India’s captain has championed the concept of intent. He has embodied it, even at the cost of his wicket. No strategy is flawless, but this focus on intent has allowed the batting lineup to thrive in every condition—even on the most challenging pitches.

Need proof? Consider Jarrod Kimber’s analysis of adjusted averages and RPO across eras. Indians have been scoring quicker than ever before without a big lag in the average runs scored.

Between 2014 and 2022, India’s top order was a powerhouse. Yet when they faltered, the middle order collapsed. Not anymore. The middle order has become the backbone of the team.

Shreyas Iyer at No. 4 is a revelation. He anchors, accelerates, and maintains a healthy average—a true glue for the innings.

KL Rahul at No. 6 is a strategic masterstroke. Freed to play with aggression, his clutch finishes in CT25 speak volumes.

Add Pandya at 7 and Jadeja at 8, and India’s batting depth becomes a formidable force.

The Ultimate Question: Can They Sustain It?

That is the real test. The pieces are in place, and the strategy is validated. But in a sport as unpredictable as cricket, nothing is permanent. The challenge lies in staying ahead of the curve, in evolving while remaining true to the principles that brought success in the first place.
Great teams don’t merely dominate—they reinvent themselves before the competition catches up.
India’s next challenge? Transforming their current success into a lasting blueprint.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli both will probably feature in the 2027 ODI World Cup. If India managed to win it with most of the current squad intact, truly, they’ll be in contention for “the greatest Indian white ball team”

Even if they don’t, there’s a huge lesson here for everyone to start with a formidable strategy and then go big on execution.

Perhaps the true pursuit isn’t in declaring a single champion, but in understanding how excellence is continually built and rebuilt—again and again.

None of it’s perfect, but all of it is beautiful

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