An area of concern though will be the ODI format, in which they played only thirteen games in the year, all spread wide across the calendar and finishing with mixed results. With just a few months left for the Champions Trophy, it is one area where there is immediate room for improvement.
ODIs in 2016:
India in Australia (January 2016):
In a series that saw centuries galore from both sides, and scores repeatedly touching or going beyond the 300-run mark, Australia managed to come up trumps four times while India had to lick their sores with a consolation win in the fifth ODI. The biggest gain for India from that series was the emergence of Manish Pandey as a batsman with a lot of promise. Despite being competitive with the bat, the bowling was shown up as Australia repeatedly managed to chase down big totals with ease.
India in Zimbabwe (June 2016):
It was a mismatch of a series despite India sending in only their second eleven for the tour. Chasing in all three matches, India never lost more than two wickets in any chase. KL Rahul emerged as an all-format batsman with impressive batting displays while for a lot of the others, the tour was a success in just being selected to play for the national team.
New Zealand in India (October 2016):
In a series that swayed like a pendulum, India emerged victors after clinching the deciding fifth ODI in Vizag thanks to five-wicket haul from Amit Mishra. But through the series, India's batting was dependent on the performance of Virat Kohli - only when he scored a fifty or more did India win. Hardik Pandya showed improvement with both bat and ball while Ajinkya Rahane failed to capitalise on getting a chance to open the batting.
T20Is in 2016:
It was the year of the World T20 and India entered the tournament as favorites not only because they were the hosts but also because of form. Before their first match of the event on March 15, India had already played 11 T20Is in the year, winning 10 of them including a clean sweep against Australia in Australia, winning convincingly against Sri Lanka at home and then clinching the Asia Cup. MS Dhoni found an eleven that lent him the balance that he sought and stuck to it like a leech.
However their first match of the tournament ended as a shock-defeat against New Zealand where Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi helped defend 126. The loss threw a spanner in the smooth-running T20 wheel. A wobble began despite a win against Pakistan. Bangladesh stretched India to tenterhooks while Kohli's single-handed brilliance helped overcome Australia. He looked set to do it again against West Indies in the semi-final but the eventual winners' power-hitters won them the day, crashing India's party. This loss was followed by another shock-defeat against Zimbabwe in June. It is not often that India lose a game despite MS Dhoni being at the crease in the last over but it was to happen twice in the year - once against Zimbabwe and once against West Indies in USA in June. So near yet so far, and it summed up the year as well in T20Is.
Tests in 2016:
It is for their performances in this format that India will hold 2016 close to their hearts. They remained unbeaten over 12 Tests, won all the series that they played, finished the year as the No. 1 Test side and extended their unbeaten streak to a record 19 since last year. Under Virat Kohli, India have once again regained that halo at home. R Ashwin was not only the best spinner but also grew into a trustworthy all-rounder. The lower-order batting turned matches on its head for India while the pacers spewed venom in bursts. The openers went through an injury turnstile and it caught on with other members of the squad gradually. India never got to field the same eleven in consecutive games but that only became an opportunity for the bench to show its strengths. Replacements stepped it up and none showcased it better that Karun Nair who became India's second triple-centurion. Cheteshwar Pujara regained his mojo in Tests but it was Virat Kohli once again who stole the show with the bat, producing match-changing innings and leading the team with vigor to cap off a golden phase in the format.
Top performer:
Top performer:
Despite R Ashwin's brilliance with the ball all through the year, the one man who repeatedly turned games around in all formats was Virat Kohli. Through it, he was showing his all-round facets as a batsman. In January, he was flaying Australia in Australia in the T20Is and ODIs; in the Asia Cup, Pakistan came up against a determined and controlled Kohli; in the World T20, Australia saw Kohli run the show; in West Indies, a first Test double hundred came to be. He would add on two more to in the next two series he played. England saw him save a Test, dominate one more and consistently saw him turn games around.
Promising player:
Promising player:
Jasprit Bumrah came into his own in the shorter formats of the game. So much so that he soon became the first bowler added to any team-sheet. A good yorker, a difficult-to-pick action and variations of pace have enabled him to be an asset for the Indian limited overs teams. With age on his side, the young pacer has time to improve but will probably have to do it in the spotlight now.
Looking ahead to 2017:
Looking ahead to 2017:
It's been a good start for Anil Kumble as the head coach of the Indian team, but 2017 will bring with it a new set of challenges. The first half of the year will see India play five more Tests at home after a limited overs series against England. They will want to make sure that their impressive streak in the format continues. The Champions Trophy will be the next big assignment for the team and for which they don't have enough game-time as a group, something that will be on the back of Kumble and Dhoni's minds.
The three ODIs against England will be vital to look into team combinations and chinks that need to be ironed out. The team will be under pressure now to maintain the standards that they've set themselves. It'll tell us if 2016 was the peak or just a start.
