India took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series with wins in Thiruvananthapuram and Guwahati, but South Africa won the third Twenty20 International, in Indore, to avoid a clean sweep. Here is how the Indians performed in the series.
Rohit Sharma: 3/10
Three matches, 43 runs, SR 105, HS: 43
Two of Rohit’s innings were two-ball ducks. He got runs in the match in between, in Guwahati – but a 37-ball 43 hardly helped India’s cause in the powerplay. India did reach 237-3 – but that took three of his teammates to strike at over 200, and another at 175.
KL Rahul: 8/10
Two matches, 108 runs, SR 129, HS: 57
Requiring only 107 at Thiruvananthapuram, India were quickly reduced to 17-2. With a calm fifty, Rahul ensured things did not get worse from there. He upped the tempo in Guwahati with a 28-ball 57 before he was rested in Indore.
Virat Kohli: 6/10
Three matches, 52 runs, SR 141, HS: 49*
Kohli failed in Thiruvananthapuram and was rested in Guwahati, but his 28-ball unbeaten 49 was among the reasons India reached that enormous total in Guwahati.
Suryakumar Yadav: 9/10
Three matches, 119 runs, SR 195, HS: 61
Another series, another dazzling performance from Suryakumar. First, a 33-ball unbeaten 50 on a pitch where most batters were at sea against some quality pace bowling. Then, a 22-ball 61 despite coming to bat in the 12th over. He hit a delightful six in Indore before running out of fuel, but he had already done enough to win the Player of the Series award.
Rishabh Pant: 5/10
One match, 27 runs, SR 193, HS: 27
Just a lone appearance for Pant, where he was promoted to the top after India were set 228. He began briskly, then hit Lungi Ngidi for two fours and two sixes before falling to an outstanding catch – all in the same over.
Dinesh Karthik: 9/10
Three matches, 63 runs, SR 225, HS: 46
A mere 28 balls for Karthik in the series – but he seldom needs more to leave an impact these days. In Guwahati, the seven-ball unbeaten 17 provided India with those vital extra runs in the end. With several key batters rested, he batted at No.4 in Indore – and slammed a 21-ball 46.
Deepak Chahar: 8/10
Three matches, 31 runs, SR 182, HS: 31, 3 wickets, Econ 8, BBI: 3-24
Barring a lone outing against Afghanistan, Chahar had not played T20Is for India since February. Following a rehabilitation programme, he took new ball and bowled beautifully in the first two matches, returning 4-1-24-0 even when South Africa posted 221-3. Loses a point for the expensive spell in Indore, but earns it back after that delightful slog.
R Ashwin: 8/10
Three matches, no wicket, Econ 6.67
No wicket for Ashwin in the series – but he bowled his full quota every time, and conceded under seven an over. South Africa crossed 200 twice in three matches, but Ashwin conceded 37 and 35 in the two matches. The numbers do not look outstanding, but stand out when pitted against his teammates.
Axar Patel: 5/10
Three matches, 2 wickets, Econ 9.11, BBI: 1-16
Axar continued his momentum from the Australia series to Thiruvananthapuram, but fizzled out after that. His figures across the last two T20Is read 5-0-66-1.
Harshal Patel: 4/10
Three matches, 2 wickets, Econ 10, BBI: 2-26
In his second series after recovering from an injury, Harshal looked better than he did against Australia – but that was about it.
Mohammed Siraj: 1/10
One match, 4-0-44-0
A forgettable outing for Siraj, where he made little impact.
Umesh Yadav: 1/10
One match, 3-0-34-1
Umesh played the same match as Siraj and even got an early breakthrough – but that was about it.
Arshdeep Singh: 7/10
Two matches, 5 wickets, Econ 11.75, BBI: 3-32
Arshdeep took three wickets in his first over in Thiruvananthapuram – a blow from which South Africa never recovered. In Guwahati, his first over accounted for two more. But these remained his only wickets as the South Africans went after him towards the end stages of the second match. He was rested in Indore.
Shreyas Iyer: 0.5/10
One matches, 1 run, SR 25
Iyer played only in Indore and lasted four balls. He edged the first two balls, did not middle the third, and fell to the fourth.
