India vs New Zealand 2019: Team India Players' Ratings

The India National Cricket Team won the fifth ODI in Wellington by 35 runs, thus clinching the five-match ODIs 4-1 against New Zealand. Meanwhile, it was a thorough team performance which saw the Men in Blue attain their successive ODI series victory away from home. Also, never before had they beaten the Kiwis with such a margin in away ODIs. However, off the entire squad, only two players didn’t get to play in the 50-over series; else everyone had contributed towards team’s success. Here we will look at team India players’ ratings for the New Zealand ODIs.

Team India Players’ Ratings for the New Zealand ODIs

• Rohit Sharma (6 points)

The stand-in captain for the last two ODIs, Rohit didn’t have the best of ODI series. Though he collected 165 runs off five games, Rohit didn’t score a single hundred; failing to achieve the feat for the first time in 11 ODI series/ICC tournaments. However, his captaincy in the final game was upto the mark. With NZ needing 252 to win the match, it was the tactical changes from the skipper which didn’t allow the hosts to gain momentum.

• Shikhar Dhawan (7 points)

Being the second highest run-scorer with 188 runs to his name, Dhawan has had a good time batting in New Zealand. Yes, he didn’t score a hundred either, his numbers were a notch better than Rohit’s. Meanwhile, it was during the NZ ODIs when Dhawan completed 5000 runs in ODI cricket; becoming the second-fastest Indian (118), after Virat Kohli to achieve the feat.

• Virat Kohli (8 points)

Though Kohli played only three ODIs, he left his impact in the middle; helping India beat New Zealand in the first three games and thus clinching the series. With the willow in his hand, the India captain scored 148 runs at 49.33. Unlike his records, forget a hundred, Kohli only scored one fifty in three matches.

• Ambati Rayudu (7.5 points)

Had Rayudu not struck around in the final ODI in the Wellington, his points would have been far less. In five games, he scored 190 runs, of which 90 came in the recently-concluded match. At one stage with India reeling at 18 for four, it was Rayudu, who didn’t lose his wicket and kept the scoreboard ticking. Even in the third match, he scored an unbeaten 40, helping India chase the total with seven wickets in hand.

• MS Dhoni (6 points)

The former India captain began the series on a good note, remaining unbeaten on 48 off 33 balls in the second ODI. He, however, had a sore hamstring and thus missed two games; but that didn’t brush off his efforts on the field. Though he didn’t collect a single catch in three ODIs, MS Dhoni affected two stumpings and a run-out in the final match.

• Kedar Jadhav (5.5 points)

The all-rounder, Kedar Jadhav had a pretty mediocre series. With the bat, he scored 57 runs in three innings; while with the bowl in hand, had grabbed three wickets at an economy of 5.42. Meanwhile, his best outing was in Wellington, where he hit 34 runs and help India revive from the tough start.

• Dinesh Karthik (6.5 points)

DK didn’t get the nod in the first go but gave everything he had in the games he was asked to play. In MSD’s presence in the third and fourth ODI, Karthik scored 38 off the bat and took five catches as well. Meanwhile, in the fourth ODI, when India got jolted with Boult’s brilliance, Karthik was expected to stay around. Instead, he played a loose shot and got out on zero.

• Vijay Shankar (6 points)

Off the three games he played, the all-rounder got a chance to bat in only one ODI, scoring 45 runs. Considering he had shown maturity while dealing with the swing in the Wellington game; when India was reeling at 18 for four, Vijay Shankar should get acknowledged for his efforts. However, the department where he needs to work is his bowling. He kept it tight for the batsmen but didn’t get a wicket in the total of ten overs he bowled on NZ tour.

• Hardik Pandya (7 points)

The star India all-rounder returned to the squad after serving suspension imposed by the CoA and the BCCI for his conduct in Koffee with Karan. However, his come back was all but great for his confidence. In the three matches, he batted in two, scoring a quickfire 45 off 22 balls in the fifth ODI. In total, he scored 61 runs. On the other hand, Hardik’s bowling figures didn’t disappoint either. He took three wickets at an economy of 5.23.

• Shubman Gill (4.5 points)

The youngster, Shubman Gill didn’t have the most promising debuts. Getting to play in the last two ODIs in the absence of Virat Kohli, Gill just didn’t live up to the promise. In two matches, he scored just 16 runs.

• Bhuvneshwar Kumar (7.5 points)

India’s swing-ball bowler, Bhuvneshwar Kumar was among the wickets in the New Zealand ODIs. He had played five matches and took seven wickets at an economy of 5.

• Mohammed Shami (8.8 points)

The joint-highest wicket-taker in the ODI series, Mohammed Shami picked nine wickets in four wickets at an economy of 4.75. His best was 3/19 and Shami was also the player of the series.

• Yuzvendra Chahal (8.5 points)

The leg-spinner had given a tough time to the New Zealanders in the ODI series. In five matches played, he picked nine wickets at an economy of 5.34. Also, his best was 3/41. Moreover, in the fourth ODI in Hamilton, Yuzvendra Chahal was India’s highest run-scorer with 18 runs to his name.

• Kuldeep Yadav (8.6 points)

The unorthodox spinner, Kuldeep Yadav was perhaps the most dominant bowler in the New Zealand ODIs. He played just four matches and took eight wickets at an economy of 4.31. During the middle-order, Kuldeep and Chahal had put the batsmen on the backfoot; not allowing them to score freely and later getting them out.

• Khaleel Ahmed (4 points)

Khaleel was tipped to be India’s third seamer for the 2019 World Cup until he showed up in the ODIs Down Under. Not only in Australia, but also in New Zealand, Khaleel failed to put an impact. Against the Kiwis, he played one match and went wicketless.