Zimbabwe v India, 3rd T20I: India Player Ratings

With the series levelled 1-1, the final showdown between India and Zimbabwe at Harare was anticipated to be a nail-biter. And, as expected, the match turned out to be a wonderful thriller as the Indians faced a stiff competition from the hosts before they eventually managed to edge past the opposition by three runs. Batting first, the Indian batsmen were reduced to 27/3. Kedar Jadhav then played a gem of an innings as he smashed 58 from just 42 deliveries while they continued to lose wickets.

In the end, Axar Patel’s cameo of 20 (11)* made sure India reached 138/6 in their quota of 20 overs. The Zimbabweans got off to a breezy start, in reply. Vusi Sibanda played a threatening knock. Peter Moor and Malcolm Waller kept the hosts in the hunt. But the Indians stayed in the game by taking wickets at regular intervals. Eventually, the match was brought down to off the last over. Sran started off poorly but eventually managed to keep the hosts at bay and help India snatch a memorable win.

1. Lokesh Rahul – 4/10:

KL Rahul looked completely lost today and looked in a rush while in the middle. After a calm match-winning knock in the previous match, Rahul failed to replicate the same in today’s game and was dismissed for a disappointing 22 off 20 balls. The tall right-hander began playing out a maiden over off Chatara’s bowling. Later, it seemed that he was opening up after he struck the same bowler for a six and couple of boundaries. However, his stay at the crease was short thereafter as he chopped on a full-length delivery from Neville Madziva onto the stumps and lost his wicket.

2. Mandeep Singh – 2.5/10:

A half-century in the previous game and a single digit in today’s fixture. Mandeep Singh was an unexpected failure today. He began with the same calm approach with which he batted a day ago. He started off taking singles and doubles but quickly lost wicket while trying to switch to aggression. He was the first casualty of the day for India today after he was caught off the bowling of Donald Tiripano at covers in the 4th over of the match. He could muster only 4 runs off 5 balls.

3. Ambati Rayudu – 5/10:

The reliable middle order batsman could not make any significant difference today. His cautious 26 balls 20 runs knock did help India rebuild but he could have had a larger impact if he had managed to stitch a big stand with Kedar Jadhav. He, in fact, looked promising and was heading towards playing one such knock again. But, trying to be aggressive got better of him after he could not clear the boundary off Cremer’sbowling at deep by Chigumbura.

4. Manish Pandey – 1.5/10:

Manish Pandey can consider him bit unlucky today. It was a great opportunity for him to come and play a memorable innings after India were given early setbacks by the hosts. However, he could stay at the crease was a blink and a miss affair after he was run out at the non-strikers end off the first delivery he played.

5. Kedar Jadhav – 9/10:

Kedar Jadhav was India’s saviour today. Zimbabweans looked pretty determined today and bowled tight lengths. The effect of their disciplined bowling was that India lost three top-order wickets cheaply. The pitch also was playing its role and behaving against the favour of the batsman. All these factors put India in a tacky position. Kedar Jadhav, however, looked composed and helped India through choppy waters. He came in at number 5 after the departure of Manish Pandey and held things together for India till the penultimate over f the match before giving away his wicket to

6. MS Dhoni – 7.5/10:

The stage was pretty familiar for MS Dhoni today. He came after Rayudu lost his wicket in the 13th over. Dhoni, however, could not weave his magic today and played a very rusty-ly. He started out in his typical style relying on single and double to keep the run rate moving. But, the Zimbabwe bowlers bowled smartly to him and kept under control. He tried breaking free from the shackles and tried to accelerate the run rate. However, he wasn’t able to do so after he was gotten better by Donald Tiripano in the 17th over. His failure with the bat did hamper his captaincy as he led the young troops brilliantly. The hosts batted amazingly and had put the young pace attack under pressure. But Mahi rotated the bowler smartly and did not any one of them crumble to eventually pocket the match.

7. Axar Patel – 8.5/10:

Axar Patel played a crucial role today in India’s victory today. Despite all the efforts from Kedar Jadhav, India could manage just 118 at the end of the 19th over before Patel delivered some lusty blows in the last over to Madziva, accumulating 16 runs off it to bring back the game in India’s favour. He was very instrumental with the ball as well. The opposition were cruising with Sibanda and Masakadza getting set in the middle. The pressure was mounting in the visitors. But, the tall left-arm spinner was brought in the 9th over of the game and created an instant impact by snapping the dangerous Masakadza and give India much-needed breakthrough. He bowled well throughout his spell and ended with a miserly 1/18 in his four overs spells.

8. Dhawal Kulkarni – 8.5/10:

Dhawal Kulkarni has a nervous start to the day. Vusi Sibanda looked in a vicious mood and went after the Mumbai seamer hammering him for 23 runs in his first two overs. However, he made a wonderful comeback in his second spell, taking 2 wickets at the cost of just six runs. His two two scalps were of the dangerous Sibanda and Waller. It was a highly crucial contribution from him as without these two breakthroughs the match could have a different ending for India. He finished with 2/31 to his name in the end.

10. Jasprit Bumrah – 7.5/10:

Jasprit Bumrah was the man who brought India back into the match after Sibanda went hammer and tongs early on. Zimbabwe had a breezy start and looked very threatening, sitting at 38/1 after 5 overs. But, Bumrah’s introduction into the attack helped India gain some momentum back in their favour. He was given just one over initially and was saved for the death over. He was tad expensive in the death surprisingly later on, giving away 21 runs. But, that did not make much difference to his overall tally as he finished with 0/23.

11. Barinder Sran – 8/10:

It will be a day which Sran will never forget in his future. He bowled with great control throughout the match before he was handed over the last over to defend 21 off it. He had given only 15 runs in his first three and defending 21 didn’t look like tough job. But, then happened the unexpected. Suddenly t appeared that the young man was under pressure as he began firng ball all over, giving a Six, wide and a boundary off a no ball in the first three balls. It looked like the match had slipped away and the hosts were heading towards a historic win. Fortunately for him and the Indians, Sran did not crack and went to defend the total with o ensure a thrilling 3 run win.

12. Yuzvendra Chahal – 7/10:

Yuzvendra Chahal got some brutal treatment today at the hands of the hosts, Peter Moor to be particular. The leg-spinner had an expensive outing today. His first two over cost him just 9 runs.  But, Moor then took him apart in the following two overs smashing him for three sixes. But, Chahal soon got his revenge as dismissed him off the fifth ball in the 14th over. The leggie finished with 1/32 in his four overs.