Player Ratings as India complete 4-1 series win over Australia at Nagpur

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • A fourth half-century in a row for Rahane.

    India completed a comprehensive 4-1 victory over defending World Champions Australia after a seven-wicket victory in the final ODI at Nagpur on Sunday.

    The hosts had been denied a record tenth consecutive one-day victory in Bengaluru where the visitors had broken their 11-match win-less streak abroad after a 21-run victory.

    In Nagpur, Australia were restricted to 242-9 in their 50 overs by the Indian spinners and Jasprit Bumrah after skipper Steve Smith won the toss and elected to bat first.

    In reply, Virat Kohli’s men chased down the target with relative ease with overs to spare riding on the back of Rohit Sharma’s ton.

    With the two sides now moving on for the three-match T20I series, we take a look at the player ratings for India’s Nagpur win.

    India

    Ajinkya Rahane – 7

    Standing in for regular opener Shikhar Dhawan in this series, Rahane acquitted himself well after scoring his fourth consecutive half-century as he combined with Rohit Sharma to give India a century stand for the first wicket for the third time in succession.

    Rohit Sharma – 10

    A perfect, flawless performance from the Indian vice-captain as he became the ninth Indian to score 6,000 ODI runs in the process of scoring his 14th century in the 50-over format. On a pitch difficult to bat on, Sharma made his super innings look so easy on the eye.

    Sharma made batting effortless on a difficult wicket.

    Sharma made batting effortless on a difficult wicket.

    Virat Kohli -6

    Rotated his bowlers well to restrict Australia to 242. However, the batting genius found the going tough on the two-paced wicket as he struggle to come to grips with the surface in a scratchy innings. In the end he was caught at long-off for a 55-ball 39. Has not been the best of series individually for Kohli.

    Manish Pandey – 6

    Apart from collecting the catch of David Warner at long-off, Pandey did not have much to do on Sunday with the top-order seeing India through comfortably. Came on to bat at the end after Kohli’s dismissal.

    Kedar Jadhav – 7

    The middle-order batsman has developed quite a reputation of late with his golden arm, his part-time spin helping provide India with crucial breakthroughs. He made one again on Sunday to dismiss Aussie skipper Steve Smith and then saw India through with the bat after the fall of Sharma’s wicket.

    MS Dhoni – 6

    A quite-day for the Ranchi maverick as no rearguard action was required on Sunday. Did his job behind the stumps as well as he does.

    Hardik Pandya – 7

    You cannot keep Pandya out of the action for a long time in a match and the all-rounder provided India the first breakthrough of the match to dismiss Aaron Finch after the Australian openers had put on a strong start. Did not need to bat.

    Axar Patel – 9

    Bowled extremely well on Sunday with brilliant control and length as he made full use of the two-paced nature of the pitch. Grabbed three vital wickets of David Warner,  Peter Handscomb and Travis Head and was miserly with the runs as well conceding only 38 off his 10 overs.

    Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 7

    Was a bit expensive in his first spell as Warner and Finch started well for Australia. Came back to bowl beautifully at the death and his perseverance was rewarded with two wickets in his final two deliveries.

    Kuldeep Yadav – 7

    Tested the Australian batsman constantly with his guile and variations but was unlucky not to pick up any wicket. Did well to concede only 48 runs off his 10 overs as the Indian spinners asserted their dominance.

    Jasprit Bumrah – 8

    Like Kumar, he was expensive in his first spell as 34 runs came off his first four overs. He turned it around remarkably in the death overs conceding only 17 runs in his final six along with the wickets of Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade. Developing a reputation as the best death-bowler in the world on current form.

    Bumrah was mighty impressive once again in the death overs.

    Bumrah was mighty impressive once again in the death overs.

    Australia

    Aaron Finch – 6

    Has been solid since his return to the side in the third ODI after an injury lay-off. Gave Australia a strong start one again with Warner but was not able to convert his start to a big one as in the previous two games.

    David Warner – 8

    Carried on where he left off in Bengaluru where he scored a 14th ton. Gave Australia a flying start on Sunday as he notched up his 17th ODI half-century. Could not make it two ton in a row falling to Patel’s leg-spin.

    Warner scored his 17th ODI half-century.

    Warner scored his 17th ODI half-century.

    Steve Smith – 5

    An off-colour day with the bat for the normally reliable Aussie skipper. Fell leg before wicket to Jadhav for 16 runs after trying to play across to a straighter delivery. Was powerless as Rohit Sharma’s innings took India home.

    Peter Handscomb – 4

    Got out to a very rash dismissal which will not earn him an favours if he wants to seal down a spot in the ODI lineup. Trying to swipe across a Patel delivery only to top-edge it to Rahane running back from first-slip.

    Travis Head – 6

    Built a 87-run stand along with Marcus Stoinis after a mini collapse had seen Australia reduced to 118-4. Could not push on in the death overs though as the run-rate pressure ultimately got to him. His part-time spin brought no fortune for Smith.

    Marcus Stoinis – 6

    Helped Australia rebuild the innings along with Head, but just like the latter, he could not make it count in the death overs. Bowled without any luck in his four overs.

    Matthew Wade – 4

    A mini cameo with the bat but was not enough to take Australia beyond the 250-run mark which they desperately needed. Bad day behind the stumps after he dropped a relatively straightforward edge from the centurion Sharma to compound a bad day at the office.

    James Faulkner – 6

    The Aussie all-rounder did not make any impact with neither bat nor ball after he was picked to replace the unwell Kane Richardson.

    Nathan Coulter-Nile – 7

    Bowled as well as he could and picked up the wicket of Rahane. Unfortunately did not have many runs to defend in the end.

    Adam Zampa – 5

    The leg-spinner was targeted by the Indian batsman from the off leading to expensive figures. Did pick up Sharma’s wicket at the end but it was too little, too late.

    Pat Cummins – 8

    Has bowled his heart out in this series with his immaculate pace and lengths. Did not end up in the wicket-column on Sunday but none of the Indian batsman found him easy to get away. Will be interesting to see how he fares in the Ashes.

    Cummins bowled exceptionally well without any reward.

    Cummins bowled exceptionally well without any reward.

    Recommended