After being outplayed by New Zealand in Ranchi, India won a close contest in Lucknow before winning by 168 runs in Ahmedabad to take the T20I series 2-1. Here are player ratings for India from the series:
Shubman Gill – 8/10
144 runs @ 72, SR 185; one 100, HS: 126*
Two failures to begin the series, but when he did get runs at his IPL home venue, he made an unbeaten 126 from 63 balls, the highest score by an Indian in the format. Gill also became the youngest India player to score a T20I hundred.
Ishan Kishan – 1/10
24 runs @ 8, SR 60; HS: 19
Kishan perished early in the two high-scoring matches and struggled on the turning pitch in Lucknow. The ODI double-hundred might have brought him into contention for a Test spot, but he is yet to do anything of note since then.
Rahul Tripathi – 6/10
57 runs @ 19, SR 124; HS: 44
Like Gill, Tripathi performed only once in the series – not unusual in a format where batting involves risk – where he got India off to a dazzling start to make 44 in 22 balls. These are still early days for him, but his ability to accelerate inside the powerplay is refreshing.
Suryakumar Yadav – 7.5/10
97 runs @ 48.50, SR 124; HS: 47
5 catches
His 37-ball 44 kept India in the hunt in Ranchi. The painstaking unbeaten 26 in Lucknow ruined his overall strike rate for the tour, but it helped India level the series. Then, in Ahmedabad, ‘SKY’ got a 13-ball 24 before falling to a spectacular catch. A shot here or there, and it could have been yet another special series. He gets an extra half point for the catches, at least two of which were excellent.
Hardik Pandya – 8/10
66 runs @ 33, SR 116; HS: 30
5 wickets @ 14.80, Econ: 6.72; one 4WI, BBI: 4-16
Pandya kept India afloat in Ranchi, stayed to ensure India got home in Lucknow, and played a rapid cameo in Ahmedabad. The 4-16 in the last match flattered him, but he bowled well with the new ball throughout the series, fielded well, and marshalled a young unit efficiently.
Washington Sundar – 8/10
60 runs @ 30, SR 162; one 50, HS: 50
3 wickets @ 13, Econ: 5.57; BBI: 2-22
Sundar’s series numbers make outstanding reading, particularly if one takes into account the fact that he neither bowled nor batted in India’s one-sided win in the decider. Apart from Gill, he was the only Indian to score a fifty (that too while coming to bat in the 12th over), and went for under a run a ball.
Deepak Hooda – 3/10
12 runs @ 12, SR 100; HS: 10
1 wicket @ 31, Econ: 5.17; BBI: 1-17
Hooda got out only once and bowled only six overs in the series. Batting a position higher or perhaps bowling an over or two would have brought him more into the game.
Umran Malik – 5/10
2 wickets @ 12.50, Econ: 7.89; BBI: 2-9
Dropped in Lucknow after his only over in Ranchi went for 16, Umran bowled two fast, short-pitched balls in Ahmedabad to take two wickets – but little else.
Shivam Mavi – 5/10
3 wickets @ 14, Econ: 8.40; BBI: 2-12
After two quiet outings, Mavi finally had a more substantial role to play in Ahmedabad. He took two wickets in two overs, but by then the match – and series – was as good as over.
Arshdeep Singh – 6/10
5 wickets @ 14.80, Econ: 8.22; BBI: 2-7
Backed despite a forgettable outing in Ranchi, Arshdeep bowled brilliantly in Ranchi for his 2-0-7-2. Then, in Ahmedabad, he struck twice in his first over to knock New Zealand out of the contest.
Kuldeep Yadav – 8/10
2 wickets @ 24.50, Econ: 5.44; BBI: 1-17
As batters decided to play him out, Kuldeep’s figures stood at 8-0-37-2. But for that one over in Ahmedabad, he might have finished the series with an economy rate under five.
Yuzvendra Chahal – 7/10
2-1-4-1 in only innings
Chahal bowled beautifully for two overs in his only match of the series – albeit on a helpful pitch.
