Despite Australia winning the dead rubber on September 27, India clinched the ODI series 2-1. Both teams will now shift their focus to the ICC 2023 World Cup.
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India looked a well-oiled machine during their triumphant Asia Cup 2023 campaign. The Australia series provided an opportunity to fine-tune the combinations before finalising the squad for the quadrennial event as per ICC’s deadline of September 28.
Here is how India’s 17 players fared across the series:
Shubman Gill: 9/10
178 runs @ 89; SR: 111.25, HS: 104
The highest run-scorer in the series despite getting a rest in the third ODI, Gill gave rapid starts to his team, reaching his fifty off just 37 deliveries in each outing, and converted the second into a ton.
Rohit Sharma: 7/10
81 runs @ 81; SR: 142.10, HS: 81
Returning to the side for the third ODI after a post-Asia Cup break, Rohit slammed a whirlwind 81 off just 57 deliveries, hitting five fours and six maximums. Looked in fine touch.
KL Rahul: 8.5/10
136 runs @ 68; SR: 103.81, HS: 58*
Rahul led India to wins in the first two ODIs in Rohit’s absence. He ensured they crossed the line in the first ODI with an unbeaten 58 off 63 balls, and fired all cylinders in the next game with a 38-ball 52, helping them post 399-5. His glovework was patchy at times.
Suryakumar Yadav: 9/10
130 runs @ 65; SR: 139.78, HS: 72*
Named in the World Cup squad on T20I reputation more than form, ‘SKY’ proved his naysayers wrong with twin fifties after recording three consecutive golden ducks in the last home series against Australia in early 2023. He belted the bowlers all over the park in the second ODI during the 37-ball-72 blitzkrieg.
Virat Kohli: 7/10
56 runs @ 56; SR: 91.80, HS: 56
Kohli knocked a fifty in the third ODI, his only match of the series. He looked in good touch before being dismissed trying to hit Glenn Maxwell for six.
Shreyas Iyer: 8/10
156 runs @ 52; SR: 110.63, HS: 105
Iyer came good after a long injury layoff, making the No. 4 batting position his own. He stroked a brilliant century in the second encounter and played a decent hand in the third.
Ruturaj Gaikwad: 7/10
78 runs @ 39.50; SR: 88.76, HS: 71
Opening in Rohit’s absence, Gaikwad scored a fine 71 off 77 balls while chasing 277 in Mohali, adding 142 with Gill to make the chase a one-sided one.
Ishan Kishan: 5/10
49 runs @ 24.50; SR: 111.36, HS: 31
Missed the inconsequential clash in Rajkot due to a viral fever. An 18-ball 31 in the second ODI was his only noteworthy contribution.
Ravindra Jadeja: 6.5/10
51 runs @ 51; SR: 100, HS: 35
4 wickets @ 38.50; ER: 6.07
Jadeja’s inflated average is due to his not-outs in the first two ODIs. He took three wickets in the second ODI playing as the second spinner.
Washington Sundar: 6/10
30 runs @ 18; SR: 60, HS: 18
No wickets; ER: 4.80
The most economical Indian bowler, Sundar also opened the innings for the first time in his only outing, the third ODI, and made a 30-ball 18.
Mohammed Shami: 9/10
6 wickets @ 15; ER: 5.62
Easily the best bowler from either side, Shami set the tone of the series with 5-51 in Mohali, and made a case to be the third seamer in India’s World Cup eleven.
R Ashwin: 8.5/10
4 wickets @ 22; ER: 5.17
Coming in as a wildcard entry as cover for an injured Axar Patel, Ashwin did not disappoint: he claimed 1-47 in the series opener, derailed Australia’s chase with 3-41 in the second. He is well on course for a World Cup call.
Jasprit Bumrah: 7.5/10
4 wickets @ 31; ER: 6.20
Figures of 1-43 does not reveal how brilliant Bumrah was in the first ODI. He missed the second due to family commitments, but picked 3-81 on return in the final clash.
Kuldeep Yadav: 7/10
2 wickets @ 24; ER: 8
Kuldeep, India’s ace spinner, featured in the last game after getting a break in the first two encounters and finished with 2-48 off six overs.
Prasidh Krishna: 7/10
3 wickets @ 33.66; ER: 9.18
Prasidh took out Matthew Short and Steve Smith early in the second match. Despite the economy rate being on the higher side, the twin blows immediately caused irreparable damage to the chasing team’s cause.
Mohammed Siraj: 5/10
1 wicket @ 68; ER: 7.55
In his first outing since the Asia Cup final heroics, Siraj went for runs in the last ODI, and had a solitary wicket to show in the last column.
Shardul Thakur: 3/10
No wickets; ER: 8.07
Went wicketless despite playing the first two matches.
