India v South Africa 2015, 4rd ODI – Player Ratings

India v South Africa 2015, 4rd ODI – Player Ratings: India levelled the series in an exciting match today at the Chepauk stadium. Indian bowlers restricted the South Africa batsmen for 264/9 after posting a commanding total of 299/8 in 50 overs. Virat Kohli (138) and AB de Villiers (112) were the stars for their respective teams.

This match was very crucial from India’s point of view. While South Africa lost a golden opportunity to seal the series and lift the ODI series. Both the teams had players who were successful today and who continued their bad runs. The action will now head to the Wankhede stadium, Mumbai where the last and the deciding match will be played.

India:

Rohit Sharma – 4/10:

Rohit Sharma had a very ordinary day with the bat. After a half-century in the last match, he could not make any considerable impact in today’s match. He scored a hurried 21 off 19 balls before getting caught by Du Plessis off the bowling of Chris Morris.

Shikhar Dhawan – 2.5/10:

Shikhar Dhawan has failed constantly in this series. He was yet again dismissed for a single digit score while trying to hook a short ball from Rabada in the leg side. He has continued to be a worrying factor for India.

Virat Kohli – 9.5/10:

Virat Kohli was back roaring and flexing his muscles today. He battled muscle cramps to hit a fluent knock of 138 runs. It was his first century against South Africa and his first in 14 innings. He was involved in two hundred runs stands with Rahane and Raina respectively. His knock helped India post a commendable score of 299 on the scoreboard and win the all-important match.

Ajinkya Rahane – 8/10:

Ajinkya Rahane looked in good touch today and was involved in a partnership of 104 runs for the 3rd wicket with the star of the match Virat Kohli. He scored a decent 45 and effected a brilliant run out to get India the breakthrough when AB de Villiers and Chris Morris almost changed the momentum.

Suresh Raina – 8/10:

Suresh Raina hit a much-needed morale-boosting half century today. He was also involved in a huge 127 runs stand today with Virat Kohli. Raina made 53 runs off 52 deliveries.

MS Dhoni – 6/10:

MS Dhoni did not look comfortable while batting and was not able to hit the ball comfortably. However, they did not lose much due to that, as Kohli had already put India in a good position. As usual, he was very effective behind the stumps, especially when the spinner were bowling and commanded his troops pretty perfectly.

Harbhajan Singh – 8/10:

Harbhajan Singh did not have a lot of things to do when he came to bat. But, he put an impact with the ball. He was very troublesome today for the South Africans. He constantly kept mounting the pressure. Bhajji removed the dangerous looking De Cock and then also claimed the wicket of David Miller. He finished the match with the figures of 2/50.

Axar Patel – 7.5/10:

Axar Patel claimed 1/40 today. The pitch was very supportive to the spinners. Patel bowled to his strengths to keep the South African bowlers tied up. He supported Harbhajan well and bowled as per the plan.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 8/10:

Bhuvneshwar Kumar looked ineffective during his early spell. But came back strongly to turn the match by picking up the most important South African, AB de Villiers. He then swept the tail enders Phangiso and Steyn to seal the deal for India. He ended his day with 3/68 at the end of the day.

Mohit Sharma – 7/10:

Mohit Sharma was very impressive, he got India the 1st breakthrough. He bowled within his limitations and stopped the top order batsmen from unleashing themselves when Kumar was struggling. Mohit finished the match with 1/46.

Amit Mishra – 7/10:

Amit Mishra was very impressive today. He created the pressure with his disciplined leg spin bowling and was very difficult hit. However, Mishra could only strike once during the match and finished his quota of 10 overs by conceding 55 runs. He could have got one or two more wickets but only if luck had favored him.

South Africa:

Hashim Amla – 2.5/10:

Hashim has been struggling to perform in this ODI series. It was expected that his batting would click today. But, he failed once again as he got out for just 7 runs. South Africans will hope that Amla would strike form in the final match of the series.

Quinton de Kock – 7.5/10:

Quinton de Kock looked very solid. The way he was batting at the start, everyone had begun to anticipate yet another century from him. But, unfortunately, he was deceived by Harbhajan and was caught by Rahane at second slip at a score of 43.

Faf du Plessis – 4/10:

Faf du Plessis was yet again below par with the bat. He was expected to stay on the wicket with AB but could not handle the turning ball by Axar Patel. He must take the responsibility as a batsman if he wants to see South Africa win the series at Mumbai.

AB de Villiers – 9/10:

He was the standout batsman for South Africa today. AB assessed the conditions really well. The hopes of winning the match as well as the series was alive till AB de Villiers was standing at the crease. He tried his best to chase the challenging total but failed to do so. He was out for a valiant 112.

David Miller – 2.5/10:

Miller is not having a good series at all. His dismissal added the pressure on De Villiers at the other end. He was completely beaten by Harbhajan’s guile. Hopefully, he would be ready to put his best efforts in the final match at Wankhede.

Farhaan Behardien – 5/10:

Farhan Behardien was clearly struggling. The match would had a different result if Behardien had stayed on with AB de Villers. Amit Mishra was constantly creating troubles for him before eventually getting out to him. He could score only 22 from 49 balls.

Chris Morris – 4.5/10

Charis Morris replaced J.P Duminy today. However, he could not make an impact which Duminy would have had today during the chase. Morris was expensive with the ball giving away 55 for 1 wicket in his 9 overs. While batting he was run out by Rahane cheaply for 9 runs but the 27 balls he stayed along with ABD was important from SA’s point of view.

Aaron Phangiso – 5/10:

Aaron Phangiso had less impressive day with the ball. He could not pick any wicket and was also unable to put any pressure on the Indian batsmen and conceded 51 runs without getting a wicket. He tried to contribute with the bat by clinging on with AB de Villiers during the chase but couldn’t deal with the Indian bowlers for very long once AB got out. He made 20 runs with the bat.

Dale Steyn – 8/10:

Dale Steyn played the role of the breakthrough provider for South Africa today. He broke Both Kohli-Rahane and Kohli-Raina partnership. He finished the day on the field with figures of 3/61 against his name.

Kagiso Rabada – 8/10:

Kagiso Rabada continued his good runs. His pace and bounce did not allow the batsmen to go after him. He provided the first breakthrough today and also cramped the Indians in the 49th over by claiming two wickets in that over. He picked 3/51 at the end of his 10 overs.

Imran Tahir – 3/10:

Imran Tahir went wicketless today and was easily negotiated by Kohli and Co. But, the positive point was that he did not give away runs easily and made the Indian batsmen work for their runs. He had forgettable numbers of 0/58 at the end of the day.

[interaction id=”5629144cbece044e145dfd6d”]