The World Cup dream is over. Throughout the group stage, India demonstrated dominance by brushing past sides with ease. Their only loss came at the hands of eventual champions England, but they nonetheless managed to top the points table. However, on the day it most mattered, Team India was toppled by the gritty Black Caps who displayed discipline in all departments. Let’s take a look at how each individual fared in this competition:
Rohit Sharma: 9/10
Matches: 9, Runs: 648, Average: 81, 50s/100s: 1/5
Hitman had an astounding tournament for the Men in Blue finishing as the top scorer in the competition. Unfortunately, the opener was just 26 runs shy of bettering Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar’s record tally at the World Cup.
KL Rahul: 7/10
Matches: 9, Runs: 361, Average: 45.12, 50s/100s: 2/1
Before the tournament began, India’s #4 dilemma was yet to be resolved. In the first game, KL Rahul played in the position but couldn’t make much impact. The injury to opener Dhawan prompted Rahul to open the innings with Rohit Sharma. The right-handed batsman pounced on this opportunity with both hands. Together, the duo set India off to excellent starts on multiple occasions. The 27-year-old took some time to find his groove, but once he did, he provided valuable knocks for his teams.
Virat Kohli: 8/10
Matches: 9, Runs: 443, Average: 55.38, 50s/100s: 5/0
The #1 batsman in the ODI rankings has a decent showing at the World Cup. The captain batted with consistency which saw him notch 5 half-centuries and handled bowler rotation expertly. He’ll feel unfortunate to not have gone all the way with the team.
Rishabh Pant: 6/10
Matches: 4, Runs: 116, Average: 29.00, 50s/100s: 0/0
Rishabh Pant gained entry into the Indian World Cup squad on the back of an injury to Shikhar Dhawan. Still a raw talent, Pant struggled to find timing in his WC debut against England but quickly bounced back with a 48 against Bangladesh. However, his inexperience showed in the semi-final against New Zealand where he was unable to convert on his start.
Dinesh Karthik: 2/10
Matches: 3, Runs: 14, Average: 7.00, 50s/100s: 0/0
This tournament was Dinesh Karthik’s last chance to cement his place in the national side. The axing of Kedar Jadhav after his slow innings against England allowed the wicket-keeper batsman to make way in the team. However, the 34-year old did not make most of the opportunities given to him. India heavily relied on him to stabilize the innings after the loss of quick wickets against New Zealand, but unfortunately, he was dismissed cheaply like those who preceded him.
MS Dhoni: 5/10
Matches: 9, Runs: 273, Average: 45.40, 50s/100s: 2/0
MS Dhoni could have hoped for a more fitting farewell. The legendary batsman struggled to up the ante in crucial situations, yet tried to rebuild the inning whenever possible. Despite his age, his running between the wickets and glove-work remains as impeccable as ever.
Ravindra Jadeja: 8/10
Matches: 2, Runs: 77, Wickets: 2
Though he played just two games, Ravindra Jadeja’s impact in the semi-final will never be forgotten. The all-rounder routinely made substitute appearances on the field and fascinated fans with his lightning-quick saves and marvelous catching. His brave 59-ball 77 almost turned the tide against the Black Caps, tearing his most vocal critics to ‘bits and pieces’.
Hardik Pandya: 7/10
Matches: 9, Runs: 226, Wickets: 10
Hardik Pandya was the in-form all-rounder in the tournament. The 25-year-old faced every challenge presented to him with grit and determination; be it accelerating the run-scoring, or pitching in with crucial wickets.
Jasprit Bumrah: 9/10
Matches: 9, Wickets: 18, Average: 20.61. 4W/5W: 1/0
World #1 bowler rose to the occasion on the biggest stage in cricket. The pacer demonstrated discipline and tested the resolve of the opposition batters. Looking at his numbers tells you a clear story. The 25-year-old bowled 9 maidens in the tournament and recorded an impressive economy rate of 4.41.
Yuzvendra Chahal: 6/10
Matches: 8, Wickets: 12, Average: 36.83. 4W/5W: 1/0
Chahal was the better performer between himself and fellow spinner Kuldeep Yadav. The Haryana leg-spinner started things off in grand style against South Africa picking up 4 wickets to dismantle the South Africa batting. However, he had a horrible outing against England where he was smashed all around the park. In the semis, he grabbed the crucial wicket of Kane Williamson but went for too many runs.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar: 6/10
Matches: 6, Wickets: 10, Average: 26.90, 4W/5W: 0/0
The Meerut pacer did a fantastic job supporting Jasprit Bumrah. His death bowling, in particular,
helped India on more than one occasion to restrict the opposition. The 29-year-old missed a few games to an injury, but replacement Mohammad Shami expertly filled his shoes.
It’s only a few days for India set their sights on the West Indies. Have you created an account on FairPlay999 yet? Get the best cricket odds today!