India, Dec. 3 -- One-day cricket has a certain rhythm. It is unlike the madness of the T20 format or the stifling squeeze of a tight Test. It is a cross between the two but finding the sweet spot can sometimes (just ask Suryakumar Yadav) be tougher than it looks.

Over the years, that rhythm has become second nature to Virat Kohli. He walks into bat, understands the conditions and gets down to business. But most impressive, even after watching him for so many years, is how smoothly he operates in the middle. The ones and twos are sharp but when he is in the middle, the overall atmosphere is one of control.

On Wednesday, one got the very same feeling when Ruturaj Gaikwad batted. The 28-year-old right-hander might not have played the serie...