India v South Africa 2015, 2nd ODI - Player Ratings

India v South Africa 2015, 2nd ODI – Player Ratings: Indian cricket team is finally back to the winning ways as they won their 1st match in the ODI series.

The bowlers took responsibility and performed good enough to enable India to win by 22 runs in the 2nd ODI at the Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore.

The onus was on the Indian bowler to perform and defend the modest target. Batting wise, MS Dhoni was India’s standout performer today along with useful contributions from Axar, Harbhajan and Bhuvi.

Rohit Sharma- 1/10:

Kagiso Rabada ensured that the star of the last match is not able to repeat his heroics for the second time. Sharma was out cheaply after scoring a huge score in the previous match.

Shikhar Dhawan- 2/10:

Shikhar Dhawan failed to convert his start yet again. His inability to carry on continued in this match too. He was sent to the pavilion by Morne Morkel at an unimpressive score of 23 off 34 balls.

Ajinkya Rahane- 7/10:

Ajinkya Rahane struck his second successive half-century. But, should have stayed longer at the crease. Though his runs meant a lot for India in the end, since no one apart from Dhoni contributed as much as he did.

Virat Kohli- 5/10:

Virat Kohli’s poor luck seems to have accompanied him in today’s match as well. He was once again run-out. However, he took three spectacular catches and had a very good day on the field.

MS Dhoni- 9/10:

Ms Dhoni proved his detractors wrong today. He stood tall among the odds when the team needed him the most. He came to bat at number 5 and immediately took charge of the innings. Batting with the tail-enders, he scored 92 runs and finished the innings in his trademark style by hitting a six off the last ball of the innings. Dhoni was also instrumental with his captaincy rotating his bowlers and getting his fielders at the right place.

Suresh Raina- 2/10:

Suresh Raina was dismissed for a duck. He was dismissed at a time when he was expected to stay in the crease and anchor the innings Ms Dhoni. The points he gets is for his fielding and the last catch that he took to complete the win for India.

Axar Patel- 8.5/10:

Axar Patel batted sensibly knowing that Dhoni needs a batsman at the other end to keep the scoreboard moving ahead. The left arm spinner was also the best bowler for India and struck at the important times in the match. He finished the match with figures of 3/39 to his name.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar- 7.5/10:

Tail-enders played a crucial role today for India. Ms Dhoni was not able to find any steady batsmen at the other end. Bhuvi did his best and stuck there with Dhoni for a short but considerable span of time. He was also very effective with the ball today and wiped off the tail to seal the match, finishing off with 3 wickets for 49 runs.

Harbhajan Singh- 8/10:

Firstly, he made some vital contribution to the Indian innings by scoring a run a ball 22. The significant thing was that he anchored the innings with the skipper. Harbhajan was also very effective with the ball and returned with the figures of 2/51 at the end of the day.

Umesh Yadav- 5/10:

Umesh Yadav was just satisfactory in the match and failed to have an impact on the South African batsman. He could have performed much better as he got just one wicket against 52 runs in his 8 overs.

Mohit Sharma- 7/10:

Mohit Sharma played an important role today. He bowled miserly and slowly built the pressure on the South Africans. He made the South African batsman work hard for every run and got one wicket costing just 21 runs in 5 overs.

South Africa:

Hashim Amla- 2/10:

Hashim was very ordinary today and literally no impact on the game. He was dismissed early on in his innings for 17 by Axar Patel.

Quinton de Cock- 4/10:

Quinton de Cock batted well at the start of the innings. But, unfortunately, he could not capitalize on the start and was sent to the pavilion by Harbhajan for 34 runs.

Faf du Plessis- 6/10:

Faf du Plessis scored yet another half century. But, he got out at a very important situation in the chase and should have spent more time in the middle to help South Africa through in the chase.

J.P Duminy- 4/10:

J.P Duminy had an average day on the field today. He could not strike with the ball and was also dismissed LBW to Axar on 36.

AB de Villiers- 2/10:

The responsibility was on him to take his team over the finishing line. But, unexpectedly, he failed and got out because of a brilliant effort by Virat Kohli in the field.

David Miller- 0/10:

David Miller had a very disappointing day with the bat. He was dismissed for a first-ball duck by Bhuvneshwar Kumar. He bothered the scorers neither at the ground nor here.

Farhaan Behardien- 2/10:

Behardien was the lone specialist batsman left in the middle. Considering the form he is in, it was expected that he would bat with the tail enders and finish the game but the moment India had his wicket, they literally had the game in hands.

Dale Steyn- 8/10:

Dale Steyn was the highest wicket taker for the Proteas. He took the wickets of Harbhajan and Bhuvneshwar, who had become trouble for South Africa in the latter part of the innings. He also chipped in with some quick runs.

Kagiso Rabada- 8.5/10:

Kagiso Rabada was satisfying today. He got the all-important wicket of Rohit Sharma in very first over and also kept bowling tight throughout his spell. He also made a very valuable contribution with the bat at a very crucial stage during the chase for South Africa and was unbeaten at the end of the innings.

Imran Tahir- 7.5/10:

Overall, Imran Tahir was the most effective bowler for the South Africans today. He also made very useful runs with the bat along with Rabada.

Morne Morkel- 7.5/10:

Morkel was not easy to face for the Indians and he generated good pace and bounce. He effectively kept the scoring rate in control and dismissed the dangerous Dhawan and Raina.