Coming after the humiliating defeat suffered in the Test series, the 3-1 victory in the ODI series means that the diehard supporters of the Indian team would have something to cheer for. Many players did spectacularly well in the ODI matches for India, with Suresh Raina being the man who changed things around with his spectacular hundred at Cardiff. Here are the ratings for MS Dhoni’s boys:
Mahendra Singh Dhoni: 9/10
Didn’t really have to do much with the bat, but gets high ratings for his inspired captaincy. Much is said about how Dhoni is a better limited overs cricket batsman than a Test batsman, what is also clear is that is captaincy is a lot more effective in ODIs and T20s than in Tests. Dhoni has probably saved his India career with this victory.
Shikhar Dhawan: 6/10
Apart from a brilliant unbeaten 97 in the 4th match, Dhawan hasn’t really done much in the ODI series, or for that matter in the entire tour. Much more would have been expected from the Delhi opener.
Rohit Sharma: 7/10
Played just one match before returning home with an injury, but did well enough in that match, scoring a fifty.
Ajinkya Rahane: 9/10
Rahane was the only Indian batsman to have come good on the entire England tour (Murali Vijay did okay in the Tests). His batting was immaculate, his century at Birmingham one of the best we have seen by an Indian batsman in overseas conditions. Definitely, the rising star of the Indian team.
Virat Kohi: 1/10
A disastrous ODI series followed a disastrous Test series for Kohli, who never got any luck in the entire English summer. Only made 54 runs from 4 innings. India won the ODI series in spite of Kohli rather than because of him. This is unusual, as in the recent past, Kohli has featured strongly in every Indian victory. Not so this time.
Suresh Raina: 10/10
The star of the show for India, the man who turned the England tour around with perhaps the greatest century made by an Indian batsman in a one day match outside the subcontinent. Has answered a plenty of critics with his performance, and did well with the ball as well. Superb.
Ambati Rayudu: 7/10
Ambati Rayudu is a trier and a hard worker, and he made the best of every opportunity that he did get. Has every reason to be pleased with his performance.
Ravindra Jadeja: 9/10
Jadeja or “Sir Ravindra Jadeja” as he is called by Indian fans, finally justified the hype around him. His bowling was brilliant, taking wickets while giving nothing away. His batting was great as well – his innings of 87 in a losing cause was outstanding. And he is one of the best fielders in the world. Great show!
Ravichandran Ashwin: 8/10
Ashwin was great with the ball, and kept a stranglehold on all English batsmen, especially on England’s premier one day batsman, Eoin Morgan. Took 7 important wickets.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar: 7/10
Kumar was okay without being great, but he wouldn’t be disappointed with his performance. Picked up important wickets.
Mohammad Shami: 7/10
Shami is perhaps more suited to limited overs cricket than to Test cricket, and his bowling was decent in the ODI series. He is the only Indian bowler to get the yorker right.
Mohit Sharma: 4/10
Sharma was okay without doing anything much. Was ruled out because of an injury.
Dhawal Kulkarni: 2/10
Played just one match, didn’t do much and was promptly dropped.
Umesh Yadav: 6/10
India’s only fast bowler in the ODI squad. It’s a pity that he got to play just one match. Surely, Dhoni should trust his fast bowlers more.
