A skipper is always expected to lead from the front in a sport like cricket, for it is his performance that has a bearing on other teammates and the final outcome of a match. Individuals realise their full potential only when the captain trusts them and gives them complete freedom to express themselves. This has obviously augered well for the team and assisted them in enjoying long winning streaks.
There are many ways in which a captain can lead by example, be it by scoring a crucial knock, scalping important wickets, throwing himself around in the field to save some runs, an inspirational field placing or a bowling change. A leader has to keep all these options ready, for no-one knows what might come in handy in a given situation. Thus said, we will be focusing on the batting aspect in this particular article. In the below piece, we look at 4 batsmen, who scored the highest runs as captain in men’s List A cricket:
1. Prithvi Shaw – 227
A talented opening batsman for India, Shaw chronicled this knock recently while playing for Mumbai against Puducherry in the concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy, 2021 at Jaipur. Put into bat first, Mumbai piled up a mountain of runs on the board, scoring 457-4 in their 50 overs, owing to a captain’s knock of 227(152) by Shaw and innings of 133(58) by Yadav.
Puducherry, as expected, had no answers to the impeccable display by the Mumbai batsman, getting dismissed for just 224 in 38.1 overs and handing the opposition a victory by a massive margin of 233 runs. Solanki was the pick of the bowler for Mumbai, snapping up 5-48.
2. Graeme Pollock – 222
Described as the greatest South African batsman to have played the game, Pollock hammered this knock while playing for Eastern Province against Border in the Gillette Cup, 1974. The former while batting first, posted an enormous total of 372-5 on the board in 60 overs, courtesy innings of 222 by Pollock and 115 by Short. Watson scalped 3-66 for the Border side.
In reply, Border could manage just 166-2 on the back of 75 by Harty and 58 by Gower, losing the contest comprehensively by 206 runs. Not much about the result, but the game established Pollock as a fine left-handed batsman, who had an appetite for scoring big and getting the better of the opposition.
3. Virender Sehwag – 219
The ‘Nawab of Najafgarh’ mustered this knock while captaining the Indian team against the Windies during the 4th ODI at Indore in 2011. Electing to bat first, India posted a gargantuan total of 418-5 in their 50 overs, owing to brilliant innings of 219(149) by Sehwag and 67(67) by Gambhir.
Inspite of the smaller ground and quick outfield, Windies could only manage 265 in 49.2 overs, handing India a victory by 153 runs. Ramdin was the top-scorer for the visitors with 96(96) while Rahul Sharma and Jadeja were the chief destroyers for India, picking up 3-43 and 3-34 respectively to exert their impact.
4. Rohit Sharma – 208
One of the most pleasing batsmen to watch when in full flow, Rohit struck this magnificent innings while captaining India against Sri Lanka during the 2nd ODI at Mohali in 2017. Made to bat first, India amassed plenty of runs on the board, scoring 392-4 in their 50 overs, courtesy of wonderful knocks of 208(153) by Rohit and 88(70) by Iyer.
Given the bigger ground and help for the bowlers, India restricted the visitors to 251-8 where Mathews top-scored with 111(132) while Chahal and Bumrah picked up 3-60 and 2-43 for the hosts respectively to win the encounter emphatically by a margin of 141 runs.
