The Men in Blue, who were devastated by a defeat to Australia in the 2023 World Cup finals, are back at the top of the world after winning two straight white-ball championships after winning the T20 World Cup 2024 and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Halfway through their run to the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup, a very driven and self-assured India has overcome the main problem in white-ball cricket that has been keeping its prize cabinet empty for so long: middle-order instability and inconsistency.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, India’s two greatest superstars, have been essential to the country’s white-ball dominance throughout the 2010s. The ‘Mr ICC’ for India, Shikhar Dhawan, and the ‘Prince’ Shubman Gill were both aggressive openers who would be a good fit for Rohit and Virat. Gill got them if Rohit didn’t. Rohit got them if Gill didn’t. India was protected by Virat’s safety net in the event that Rohit-Gill failed.

But in recent years, India has struggled to find fresh middle-order successors for its erstwhile stalwarts, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, and captain MS Dhoni. These three players kept India one step ahead of their rivals with a unique blend of aggressiveness and composure.

Therefore, even if their top order was successful, Team India would be vulnerable against elite batting lineups anytime this renowned three lost form.

Prior to the 2023 World Cup in India, this was often the case as these seasoned athletes struggled with sporadic slumps in performance. India attempted a number of substitutes, including Hardik Pandya, Ambati Rayadu, Kedar Jhadav, Vijay Shankar, Manish Pandey, and young Rishabh Pant, but their skills were insufficient for a major tournament like the ICC.

An analysis of India’s middle-order performances from their 2015 World Cup title defense to the present reveals that stability has arrived in the middle order in the 2020s, with players like Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, and Suryakumar Yadav being given a role to dominate from the first ball and Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul serving as important accumulators.

The Indian middle-order has been consistent for years because to its stability and role definition, and it has the potential to win several championship championships in the years to come.
India’s middle order suffered from 2015 to 2019 because to inexperience, age catching up to its stars, and resulting inconsistency.

*ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
At an average of 48.54 and a strike rate of 90.27, the top-order of Shikhar (412 runs in eight matches with two hundreds and a fifty), Rohit (330 runs in eight innings with a century and two fifties), and Virat (305 runs in eight innings with a century) amassed 1,068 runs in 24 innings during the 2015 World Cup, including four hundreds and three half-centuries.

In contrast, the middle order, which included Ravindra Jadeja (57 runs in five innings), Ajinkya Rahane (208 runs in seven innings with one fifty), MS Dhoni (237 runs in six innings with two fifties), and Suresh Raina (284 runs in six innings with a century and two fifties), amassed 786 runs at an average of 41.36 and a strike rate of 98.12. In 24 innings, they combined to score five fifties and a century.

However, other from Raina’s half-centuries against Bangladesh and Pakistan (in the quarterfinals) and Dhoni’s valiant half-century against Australia in the semifinals, the middle-order was unable to make a significant impact in crucial games. This middle-order fell short of its full potential after a crushing defeat to Australia in the semifinals.

* ICC Champions Trophy, 2017
India placed wagers on its two proven match-winning horses, Yuvraj, who was making a comeback, and Dhoni, who was in his mid- to late-30s, for the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy. Hardik and Kedar, two up-and-coming players, were also called up to the teams.

An unstoppable Rohit, Shikhar, and Virat combination helped propel India to the Champions Trophy finals once again. They amassed 900 runs in 15 innings at an average of 81.81, a strike rate of 95.44, two hundreds, and seven half-centuries. The two leading run scorers were Shikhar (338 runs in five games with a century and two fifties) and Rohit (304 runs in five games with a century and two fifties), with Virat not far behind (258 runs in five games with three fifties).

However, outside from Hardik’s valiant 76, the middle order once again collapsed, particularly during the high-profile match against Pakistan in the final during a 339-run chase. In 11 innings, the middle-order scored 311 runs at an average of 38.87, a strike rate of 112.68, and just three half-centuries. Yuvraj (105 runs in four innings with a fifty), Dhoni (67 runs in two innings with a fifty), and Hardik (105 runs in three matches with a fifty) were the standout performers. With a highest of 25*, Jadhav could score 34 runs in two innings.

*ICC Cricket World Cup 2019
There was no consistent middle order during the 2019 World Cup in the UK since players like KL Rahul, Dhoni, Hardik, Kedar, Rishabh, and Vijay were used. In 27 innings, the top order of Rahul (324 runs in seven innings with a century and two fifties), Rohit Sharma (648 runs in nine matches with five hundreds, one fifty), Virat (443 runs in nine matches with five fifties), and Shikhar Dhawan (125 runs in two matches, one century, withdrew due to injury), amassed an incredible 1,540 runs at an average of 61.60, with a strike rate of 91.72, seven hundreds, and eight fifties.

In contrast, the middle order only managed 790 runs in 31 innings, with a slightly higher strike rate of 91.75 and a declining batting average of 35.90. Dhoni (273 runs in eight innings with two fifties) and Kedar (80 runs in five innings with a fifty) were the only two middle-order half-centuries.

However, Hardik was at his most prolific when he struck hard, scoring a scorching 226 runs at an average of 32.28 in nine innings, with a strike rate of more than 112 and a maximum score of 48. Vijay only scored 58 runs in his spell at numbers four and six, while KL only managed 37 runs in two innings in the middle order. Pant was just 21 years old and just starting out in white-ball cricket, finishing at number four with 116 runs in four games at an average of 29.00 with a top score of 48.

*ICC Cricket World Cup 2023
Under Rohit’s leadership, the Indian middle-order’s dark periods came to an end, with Iyer and Rahul emerging as key accumulators. India’s top order dominated the 2023 World Cup, scoring runs from the first ball. With four hundreds and thirteen fifties to their credit, Rohit (597 runs in 11 innings with a century and three half-centuries), Virat (765 runs in 11 matches with three hundreds and six fifties), Gill (354 runs in nine matches with four fifties), and Ishan Kishan (47 runs in two innings) put on a spectacular display with 1,763 runs in 33 innings at an average of 60.79 and a strike rate of over 103.

Lastly, with three hundreds and five fifties to their credit, the middle-order performed its job flawlessly, scoring 1,219 runs at an average of 53.00 and a strike rate of over 101 in 34 innings. With 468 runs in 11 innings at an average of 66.25, a strike rate of over 113, two hundreds, and three fifties, and 452 runs in 10 innings at an average of 75.33, a strike rate of over 90, two hundreds, and two fifties, respectively, Iyer and Rahul were the core of this middle-order. Some helpful cameos were contributed by Suryakumar (106 runs in seven innings at an average of 17.66) and Ravindra Jadeja (120 runs in five innings at an average of 40.00). These figures would have seemed much better had it not been for the last blunder.

*The ICC Champions Trophy for 2025
When it came to the Champions Trophy, India put up its most comprehensive performance ever, with all of the key players participating in the knockout rounds. With the help of Axar’s spin counterattack, the middle-order amassed 591 runs at an average of 42.21, two half-centuries, and a strike rate of 85.77 in 18 innings. KL Rahul (140 runs in four innings at an average of 140.00), Axar (109 runs in five innings at an average of 27.25), Hardik (99 runs in four matches at an average of 24.75), and Shreyas (243 runs in five innings with two fifties) all performed flawlessly in accordance with the requirements and circumstances.

The top order of Virat (218 runs in five innings, with a century and fifty, strike rate of 82.88), Gill (188 runs in five innings, with a century and strike rate of 75.50), and Rohit Sharma (180 runs in five matches, with a half-century, strike rate of 100.00) combined for 586 runs at an average of 45.07 and a strike rate of 84.68, with two hundreds and two fifties to their credit.

The Indian middle-order has now shed its reliance on the top-order and established its own identity and dependability in the 2023 ODI World Cup and 2025 CT. The majority of the studies have passed the test, and the figures show that consistency is higher than before. Will this same middle order become the best in history and lead India to the 2027 ODI World Cup?