India v South Africa: Player ratings before the 2nd T20 tomorrow
The first encounter between host India and South Africa was a thriller. This kind of matches is gold in the coal mine. India scored 199 for 5 with Rohit Sharma becoming the second Indian batsmen to score a hundred in T20I. The first match of the ‘Freedom Series’, which is named after Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, was the perfect starter of this series, which is being considered as historic as this series between India and South Africa is scheduled as the longest series in the history. After the entertaining battle in Dharamsala in which South Africa emerged victoriously South Africa will play two more T20I,
Five match ODI series and four-match Test series. Here I will analyse players’ performance and will give them ratings.
Indian Batsmen:
Shikhar Dhawan:
The left-handed batsman played only four balls and was unwilling to take a run when Rohit Sharma called him for a second run in the first ball of the fourth over. When Dhawan got out, India were 22. Dhawan wicket proved crucial for South Africa when they restricted India from putting 200 on the board. If Dhawan did not hesitate, there was no chance of a runout.
Point: 1/10
Rohit Sharma:
Already thousands of words have been written on Rohit Sharma’s hundred. Yes, he gave the fans reminder about his class in limited over cricket with his brilliant 106. But, his wicket in the last ball of the 16th over India’s momentum of run scoring derailed. As he got out, other batsmen struggle to rotate the strike as they did not have the time to cope with the pitch. If Rohit could bat either two more overs or get out two overs earlier, Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni could have got more than 200 runs on the board. In the last 4 overs, India managed only 37 runs.
Point: 7.5/10
Virat Kohli:
Virat played a 27 ball 43 run innings. But, he could contribute more for India. Along with Rohit, Virat lost his wicket in the third ball of the 16th over. It was an untimely stroke that was caught by Duminy off Kyle Abbott. Virat’s stay till 20th over could have earned India a victory. As he was already settled and looking ominous. He could easily hit a couple of boundaries every over.
Point: 6.5/10
Suresh Raina:
With 24 balls left, Suresh Raina knew judging the merit of the ball would be a foolish idea. He played the with intuition. His only six was off a top edge. He played 8 balls scored 14 runs with one six and one four. If Suresh could not have disparate, India could have added few more valuable runs.
Point: 4/10
MS Dhoni:
MS Dhoni played 12 balls and scored 20 runs. His last ball six was awesome and important as it helped India to set a 200 run target for South Africa. But, Dhoni could play few more big shot in 12 ball innings as it was death over.
Point: 4/10
Ambati Rayudu:
He was a super flop, confused and failed to soak the pressure and eventually got run out. He wasted one ball.
Point: 0.5/10
South Africa:
Batsmen
Hasim Amla:
His innings was as stormy as other three South Africans, whose contribution helped South Africa to win the match. Amla scored 34 runs off 24 balls. His 77 runs partnership with AB de Villers laid the platform for South Africa for victory.
Point: 6/10
AB de Villers:
He is the man who paved the way for victory. A perfect pitch for batting, de Villers hit the Indian bowlers hammer and tong. A valuable 32 ball 51 murdered bowlers, especially debutante Sreenarh Aravind. AB hit seven fours and one six.
Point: 7/10
Faf du Plessis:
The captain was the victim of Aravind, who bowled him. Du Plessis played five balls and scored only 4. He failed. But his captaincy was intelligent, his bowling change and fielding change helped South Africa to restrict India inside 200 runs. He knew winning the toss bowling first would help his team.
Point: 3/10
JP Duminy:
The hero of the match, clever batting, utilization of small boundary was terrific. He shifted the gear of their chase as per his wish. In the 16th over, when South Africa needed 66 runs in the remaining five overs. He took 22 in the over Axar Patel.
Point: 8.5/10
Farhaan Behardien:
He played the role of a strike-rotater. When Duminy was murdering Indian bowlers he kept the other side safe. He scored unbeaten 32 runs off 23 balls and built a 105 runs partnership, a huge contribution he made.
Point: 7/10
Bowlers
South Africa:
Kyle Abbott:
Although bowlers did not get much assistance. Abbott’s two wickets in the 16th over proved handy for South Africa as his timely strike squeezed India run scoring momentum. His final figure was 4 over 29 runs and 2 wickets.
Point: 8/10
Kagiso Rabada:
The 20-year-old boy, in one over, was battered by Rohit Sharma, but showed good aggression in the same over by offering two back to back bouncer, and even sledged Rohit Sharma. He did not get a wicket. But figure on a batting friendly wicket was not bad-32 runs in 4 over.
Marchant de Lange: The most generous bowler in South Africa’s rank. He conceded 47 runs in 4 over.
Point: 2/10
Chris Morris:
He got 1 wicket of Suresh Raina, who could have been a trouble for South Africa in the closing moment of India’s innings. However, he conceded 46 runs, the second highest by SA bowlers in the match.
Point: 4.5/10
Imran Tahir:
He got maximum hype among all South African bowlers before the tour start. His figure in the match was 35 run in 4 over. Not, bad in a high scoring match. But, he was not included in the team to restrict India’s run scoring ability. He needed to take a wicket. He failed to do so.
Point: 2/10
India:
Bhuvneshwar Kumar:
Being experienced failed to defend India’s total. He conceded 40 runs in 4 over. However, he could have changed the course of the match if the umpire had not made the wrong decision. In the 17th over, Kumar appealed for LBW against JP Duminy. The batsman looked plumb out, but the umpire was not convinced. So, his appeal proved futile.
Point: 2/10
Mohit Sharma:
Another experienced Indian slow medium pacer who conceded maximum boundaries along with Kumar. Together they conceded 10 boundaries and two sixes.
Point: 1/10
Sreenath Aravind:
In comparison to Mohit and Kumar, the debutante Aravind bowled far better. He took the wicket of Faf du Plessis and conceded 4 boundaries and 1 six. But, he finished being the second most expensive bowler in the match.
Point: 2/10
R. Ashwin:
The off-spinner spinner was the only bowler, who created trouble for South Africa. He sent back AB de Villers, which was much-needed wicket For India. And ended with a figure 1 for 26 in four over.
Point: 6.5/10
Axar Patel:
Captain MS Dhoni might say Axar is the future of Indian cricket. But the bowler alone handed the victory to South Africa by conceding 22 runs in one over. He was bowling well, but his 1 over, turned the match in South Africa’s favour.
Point: 1/10