South Africa vs India, 5th ODI - India Player Ratings

Team India created history when they beat South Africa in the fifth ODI of the six-match ODI series in Port Elizabeth. The win at Port Elizabeth has given the visiting side an unassailable lead of 4-1 in the series with one match to play. The victory was a historic one in many senses. This win was India’s first win at the venue and their first ever win on the South African soil.

Coming in to the game, the Indian team was jolted in the previous ODI with the Protea fire lighting up in the Johannesburg ODI. The South African win had made the series wide open with two matches to play. Action moved to PE, and the hosts won the toss. Aiden Markram asked the visitors to bat first. Indian openers got off to a flying start but Dhawan perished after scoring just 34.

Later, Rohit Sharma’s ignorance saw Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane get run out. Rohit certainly covered up for it with a century. After Rohit’s 115, the Indian innings crashed as they could only post 274 on the board in their fifty overs. In the run chase, the visitors could never really get going.

Wickets kept tumbling and barring Hashim Amla, no batsman showed resistance. David Miller showed brief resistance and so did Heinrich Klaasen. In the end, it was a little too much for South Africa to chase and they bundled out for just 201 giving India a 73 run win.

Here are the India Player Ratings for Port Elizabeth ODI:

Rohit Sharma – 9/10

Coming in to the match, only one batsman from the Indian top order was under immense pressure. And that batsman was Rohit Sharma. His string of low scores on the tour had fetched him the Indian cricketer with worst average on the South African soil. Rohit certainly managed to silence all his critics in this game. He was not at his fluent best but certainly looked keen on staying at the wicket.

Rohit scored 115 off just 126 deliveries with 11 fours and four sixes to his name. He was unfortunate to have got out at the wrong stage in the game when he was expected to go all guns blazing. Had Rohit been there till the end, India would have crossed the 300-run mark.

Shikhar Dhawan – 7/10

Shikhar Dhawan has been very impressive in the ODI series thus far. The southpaw was at his elegant best yet again. While his partner, Rohit, took his time to settle in, Shikhar gave India a flying start. He smashed a quick 34 laced with 8 boundaries to his name. He was dismissed by Kagiso Rabada at a time when he had started getting in to some serious hitting form.

Virat Kohli – 5.5/10

Indian skipper Virat Kohli has arguably been the best Indian batsman on the tour thus far. However, batting at Port Elizabeth was not a cakewalk for the Indian captain. Surprisingly, Kohli looked struggling with his timing during his stay at the crease. However, he did manage to adapt to the conditions. Just when one wondered that Kohli could get going yet again, he was run out as a result of a miscommunication with Rohit Sharma. He scored 36 off 54 balls during his stay at the crease.

Ajinkya Rahane – 3/10

When Ajinkya Rahane had scored a brilliant fifty in the very first ODI of the series, many felt that the number 4 woes of the Indian team has come to an end. However, Rahane has failed to get going since then. He could only score 8 in the game. Much to his defense, he was run out as a resut of Rohit Sharma’s hesitation from the other end. On the field, Rahane dropped Hashim Amla, which certainly did not look impressive.

Shreyas Iyer – 4/10

Shreyas Iyer found an extended stay in the Indian lineup for this game as well. He batted decently enough on the day for his 30 that came off 37 deliveries. He stitched a crucial 60 run partnership for the fourth wicket with Rohit Sharma. However, much like Rohit Sharma, even he was dismissed in the slog overs when he should have got going. On the field, his woes continued as he dropped a sitter that had come off the bat of Aiden Markram.

MS Dhoni – 4/10

Veteran Indian cricketer MS Dhoni is not new to pressure situations. However, after he failed to get India going in the previous ODI, many doubted his calibre towards the end of the innings. Dhoni had another opportunity on the day. But he failed to get his act together again. He scored just 13 in the match. Later, he covered up for it with a good show with the gloves.

Hardik Pandya – 8/10

Hardik Pandya was at the receiving end of all the critics for having been dismissed for a golden duck in the match. Many even went on to say that he does not deserve to stay in the Indian side. But Pandya certainly silenced his critics with a lovely bowling spell. He accounted for the wickets of AB de Villiers and JP Duminy early on in the innings. He also ran out Hashim Amla with a direct hit. He returned with figures of 2/30 in his 9 overs.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 3.5/10

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has an off day at work with the ball. He was taken away for 43 runs in the 7 overs that he bowled. Aiden Markram and Hashim Amla took special liking for his bowling and he failed to take a wicket. Earlier in the game, he had played a handy cameo of 19 runs to help India cross the 270-run mark.

Kuldeep Yadav – 8/10

When Heinrich Klaasen clobbered Kuldeep Yadav for a couple of sixes in one over, many wondered that Kuldeep might be down and out of the game. But the youngster showed great character to come back with three wickets in just one over. He ran through the lower order to get India closer to a victory. Earlier in the game, he had taken the wicket of Andile Phehlukwayo as well. He finished with figures of 4/57 in his 10 overs to be the pick of the Indian bowlers.

Yuzvendra Chahal – 7.5/10

While Kuldeep Yadav was taken away for runs in the match, Yuzvendra Chahal managed to keep things tight in the middle overs. He dismissed David Miller, which turned out to be a big moment in the game. Chahal was not afraid to toss the ball up and his gutsy approach paid rich dividends. He finished with 2/43 to his name in the 9.2 overs that he bowled.

Jasprit Bumrah – 7/10

Jasprit Bumrah was the most impressive pacer for the visitors on the day. While Hardik took wickets with the new ball, Bumrah ensured that he did not give too many runs away. He returned with figures of 1/22 in the 7 overs that he bowled. He was prolific towards the death overs. He bowled dot balls at will at a time when Heinrich Klaasen was threatening to cut loose. Bumrah, earlier in the game, had given India their first breakthrough in the form of Aiden Markram.

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