The Insider

He isn't the dominant player he used to be, but he still offers the team plenty of value

A look at the factors that make him a challenge for batsmen

The absence of Kohli has thrown up some room for experimentation with an eye on the World Cup

For the first time in their history, India have four bowlers of high ability, making for a formidable quick-bowling unit

The work he has put in on his wrist position and length has begun to pay off

Too many variations, poor fields, and a lack of first-class bowling experience

As a young batsman, he stands out for the way he has adapted to suit the contrasting demands of Tests and T20s

Visibility is good, so is durability, and while it does swing a fair amount, it ought to spin as well

He cannot match the big hitters for power, but his numbers are as good as theirs - if not better

The adjustments they have made to their techniques have made it tougher for bowlers to exploit what were once these batsmen's weaknesses

Apart from creating awkward angles to right-hand batsmen, Amir, Wahab and Irfan each manage to pose questions with their distinctive skills

The novelty ensures that batsmen do not react as quickly as they do against bowlers with conventional actions

He worked to improve as a batsman, mastering his weakness against the short ball, and learning new strokes even though he was successful without them

It helps the batsman play many more big shots, but the cost is high

Their decision to block every delivery in Delhi required not just discipline but also infinite amounts of concentration, patience, adaptability and excellent technique

He goes through long barren patches between big scores. Can he change his technique without harming his fast-paced batting?

There was a lot more to Virender Sehwag than see ball, hit ball

A county stint helped him add variety to his high-quality left-arm pace and taught him to bowl within himself when wickets seemed scarce

He's delightful to watch because he makes batting look easy, but there are some gaps in his technique in the long form

Increasingly Indian batsmen seem to be choosing to stand with their feet far apart in the crease