Robin Uthappa may be the flavour of the fortnight, imposing himself with some barnstorming innings, but it was the calm, cool elegance of Ganguly that inspired confidence. There was an air of been-there-done-that to Ganguly as he picked off a couple of early boundaries, and then really signalled the kind of touch he was in with a lofted four off Marlon Samuels. Moving to leg slightly, Ganguly freed his arms, and could have hit the ball with all the strength in his torso, but instead, he gently coaxed it along, timing the ball perfectly, using the bat not so much to propel the ball but to direct it over mid-off to the boundary.

When Uthappa fell, Dravid joined Ganguly and the runs came with a minimum of fuss. Almost without a chance 101 runs were added for the second wicket, off only 113 balls, and when Ganguly jumped down the pitch and was stumped, India were going along at almost six, giving Tendulkar a buffer to settle in. But Tendulkar wasn't about to waste his time at the crease. Although he did not exhibit the same ease of boundary hitting as Ganguly, the intent to pick up singles was heightened, and the scoreboard was ticking over, the runs swelling.

Dravid, the rock of conventional middle-order ODI batting, helped himself to 78, with seven boundaries, but it was the man at the other end who was driving the crowd to distraction and making the connoisseurs purr with delight. Tendulkar's cover and square-driving were of the highest quality - the balance perfect, the weight transfer immaculate, the ball seldom going in the air. Dravid's dismissal, attempting to heave Samuels over midwicket, barely caused a blip, and brought on a roar from the crowd, not because it was time for him to go, but at 266 for 3 in the 44th over, it was MS Dhoni time.

Tendulkar, on 67 when Dhoni walked in, did not seem to realistically think he would make it to three figures, and was simply content turning the strike over and letting Dhoni loose on the bowlers. Dhoni certainly didn't mind, and proceeded to whip the bowlers to all parts. Long off, long-on, midwicket, the corporate office of Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Limited just outside the ground - nothing was spared as the ball disappeared to all parts.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's hitting reached such a fever pitch that the crowd actually rumbled their discontent when Tendulkar was on strike © Getty Images

Dhoni's hitting reached such a fever pitch that the crowd actually rumbled their discontent when Tendulkar was on strike. Perhaps spurred by this, perhaps because he simply thought the time had come, Tendulkar unfurled his first big hit, a slog-sweep for six that took him to 83. Just two runs later Brian Lara did the unthinkable, putting down a straightforward offering from Tendulkar at mid-off, allowing an inside-out hit to somehow spear through him and run away to the boundary. On 91, Tendulkar was put down again, this time on the midwicket boundary by Lendl Simmons, and then it became clear that it was his day. Tendulkar's 41st one-day hundred was on its way, and off the last ball of the innings he pinched a single, taking his score to an even 100, off only 76 balls, and India to 341.

If there was still a chance, after India had posted such a tall score, then it evaporated when Ajit Agarkar delivered the prize wicket of Chris Gayle early on with a peach that curled away from the bat and Shivnarine Chanderpaul lobbed one to square-leg. All that was left, with the result not in serious doubt, was for the crowd to get one last look at Lara on Indian soil. They got one glide to third-man, and one whip off the hips before Lara, at the non-striker's end, was run out, backing up too much as a straight drive from Samuels ricocheted off Irfan Pathan onto the stumps. The crowd roared when the third umpire signalled the fall of the biggest West Indian wicket about, but perhaps they shouldn't have, for they'd just lost the last chance to savour a Lara innings in the flesh.

And yes, the time will come soon to see the back of Tendulkar, Dravid and Ganguly, not far apart from each other, and Indian crowds will then be left sampling what riches the next generation of batsmen has to offer. For the moment, though, in the approach to the World Cup, fans would do well to treasure the occasional pearls that they drop, instead of wondering whether these stalwarts are past their use-by date.

Well for the last few years,this supposedly "strong" batting line has been failing repeatedly in crunch times, not least in the the final 2 test matches in SA.
What would be really fascinating would be to watch when this triumveterate(+VVS),decide to hang up their boots?

I wouldn't be too excited about the Indians' performance against West Indies. Apart from Ganguly and Laxman, on occasion, the batsmen were extremely disappointing in South Africa. At Newlands, Tendulkar looked as if he didn't know how to make runs. I don't think India stands a chance against the tight, aggressive bowling which will be offered by South Africa, Australia and Pakistan.

these guys make runs only in India and that to in dead pitches....These so called Heroes ( Boosted by commentators, Indian hype media) are zeroes in SA, Australia and other continents...
I wonder why the commentators and the media are projecting these indian cricketers in HIGH...
Since this pitch is dead everyone can make runs..Even if they sent Zaheerkhan in No.4 position, he can make 50+runs without doubt.

Great Batsman should score runs when the team is in trouble. Our so called Heroes (Tendulkar, Rahul dravid, exempt Sourav, etc) will make 'Q' when it comes to difficult pitch.

Its very sad to see the columns in Indian news papers today that they are writing about the Indian team and crickters as if they won "WORLD CUP".

Ofcourse india played well in the last match. But playing in the indian pitches is not great. Even sachin too failed in the SouthAfrica series. If indians win the series in the pitches other than Asian Countries, then it will be great. Indians should practice how to play cricket in pitches other than the asian countries for winning the worldcup.

It is obvious that all are in attempt to make sure there is place in world cup squad. When India will exit in I/II round you will see none of this stalwart made any runs.
Tendulkar never played in any winning cause see Pakistan/South Africa/England recent series. He does not want any body else to be mentioned before his name.

The selection should be on some logical/performance based criteria not on past performance.

Oh! I have so much complain....

regards

I think this peformance is agaist a weakest bowling attack.
Let see what the do when they face South-Africa and Austrialia.
Beside 4-0 India wash-out in SA prove one thing. India are 'Lion only in their own back-yard'.
Remember one thing West-Indies Beat india 4-1 last year. so don't start jumping from Now that India has won the world-cup.

I enjoy reading your perfectly written verdicts as much as watching the game live, perhaps even more.

No doubt it is a great performance but this batting line-up can be remained unquestionable
only when they can bring us the second World Cup victory. It will test their stamina in a very unbiased atmosphere. Let us hope for the best.

It is good to see our three Top Batsman are in form.we indian Always wants win,if we lost people started voices,replace the player.but it is not fare.whole world praise of Sachin tendulkar ,now a days so many retired player some one only played 2 - 3 Tests or One Day.They comments on Sachin very cheaply most of north player every time comments on sachin.It is not fare for Sachin.Bharat PAtel

Well, India is always a strong side in home. But winning in home pitches also count. Why i say that is , SouthAfrica also got thrashed by others when they playued away in Srilanka , Australia , India. Except Australia , no side at the moment is a strong side away from home.. South Africa's batting as we all know is weak in slow pitches as India's batting in pacce-friendly pitches.. I am definitely sure that Australia , Westindies , two of (Pakistan ,India and Srilanka) are going to make to the semis . And Sothafrica is going to fall over pieces. Infact , in the last world cup , SA didn't even play well in their own backyard.. So Proteas for me is just a pushover

I am disappointed with this article. We have always expected high standards from Cricinfo writers. This article suggests that Dravid, Tendulkar and Ganguly are the best batsmen in ODIs. I think of several more players who are more consistent and in better form than the Indian line-up. Just because Tendulkar hit a century after several attempts, it is ridiculous to say that India has the best batting line-up. It may be appropriate to say that in 2004, for a short period, when India played in Australia, India had a good line-up. I certainly didn't expect an article which patronises Indians to this extent and from a writer of the calibre of Anand.

In the column "batting line up to die for' by anand vasu I want to ask where does this 'batting lineup to die for' goes when it comes to winning matches in South Africa or Australia. Forget Sachin scoring a century the whole Indian team together finds it difficult to score a century in Durban(kingsmead). any way world cup is round the corner in Windies where the pitches are expexted to favour subcontinent batsmen more than anyone else. So Team India can escape toughest of the tests that lie Down Under.Winning matches batting first on flat tracks is not the permanent solution Indian cricket is looking for rather its is the permanent source of entertainment and joy for the Indian cricket fans and source of relief for the Indian cricketers

Since when did Anand Vasu, the insidious opportunist change side to rave about Ganguly? Shame on you Anand Vasu, for not holding to your point

Anand Vasu goes into raptures in decribing the Tendular innings in the 4th ODI at Vadodra and about the fabulous Indian batting Line up. However, where is this line upwhen confronted with some real bowling in foreign soil. Our line up does great things on Indian Soil/ subcontinental pitches but the batting fades when they bat abroad. I hope they repeat their so called batting provess in the world Cup.
Sincerely

Indias performance was perfect as far as the batting is concerned.the opening batsmen did well runs flowed in,then we got the singles and closed in with 100+ runs in the last ten overs .but it is of great concern that the bowling is not up to the standards.most bowlers are medium pacer and good pacers like sreeshanth dont stick to the basics.what we need is a variety of players.indians suck when it comes to playing in pitches that are fast and do not help the spinners.what india need is a very good bowling all rounder

If India have such a great batting line up how come they keep getting thumped every time they play away? I mean, great sides normally win quite a bit. India don't seem to do very much of that. Seems to me like the person who wrote this article takes the same view of Indian cricket as one might take of ones ex-girlfriend - like you remember the pretty bits and forget about the bad. I mean that's all fair and well but it hardly amounts to objective journalism. Australia have a great batting line up. India on the other hand do not.

It was nice to see the appriciation on victory. But no one seems to care when the Indian team needs the support, that is when they are down.

whats this hype about a game with a willow bat and leather ball of colour being toiled and beaten to beyond ropes and fileds a far..so wats the game called and the hypre bout...

peace

y'all willow handle leather balls

Please, theIndian batting line up only fire on the flat pancake pitches in India, they were horribly exposed in SA and looked a little out of their depth. Slightly biased article in my opinion. Tendulkar did squat out here in SA and I think it's time he made way for some fresh blood in the team, SA are gonna murder India again in the World Cup - nark my words....what was the scoreline out here? 4-0 to SA if I'm not mistaken? Wake up!!! India suck outside of India!!!!!!

Kind of an over reaction. One has to consider the following: 1.This batting line up has crumbled many a times in overseas / dissimilar conditions. This does not provide any comfort that the Indian line up (with the exception of Dravid) is well on its way to success in the WI 2. This was the West Indies bowling attack, which apart from a few bowlers is not nearly as testing as say the SA, Aus. or a fully fit Pak attack.
Sometimes a farmer stuck in a long season of drought will celebrate even the slightest sprinkle. Be patient Anand.

dont hype up the indian team as though theyve beaten the best team in the world on bowler friendly wickets. in fact it was quite the opposite. there are grave weaknesses in indian cricket which always get overlooked the moment they win an odi series.

A batting line-up to die for? I don't think so. I recall more occasions when this line-up failed to deliver when the chips were down. How quickly Indian fans forget the numerous occasions when this batting line-up failed to deliver and as a result we lost an ODI series or a test-series. Yes, they have compiled a massive number of runs and centuries, but during their time India still hasn't won an away series in Australia or South Africa, nor have they won a world cup. It is clear to me that Indian cricket will improve only when Indian cricket fans stop deifying cricket players and start to demand better from their cricket team, their players and their administrators (esp. the corrupt board). Until then, India will always be an also-ran.

Batting line-up has been upgraded after the comeback of Ganguly.History tells us that the come-back of the most succesful captain of India was inevitable. But even though one dashing bowler-Irfan Pathan is still missing in formaig a perfect team.Like others he will also have a nice come-back.And so for Sehwag.