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India vs England ODI series: Marks out of 10 for Virat Kohli’s men

Despite the Kolkata defeat, India beat England 2-1. We evaluate India's performance in the series and rate them on a scale of 10.

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England averted a whitewash against India in Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Eoin Morgan’s men clinched a 5-run win to end the series 1-2. In his first series as India’s full-time captain, Virat Kohli came within one six of a whitewash against a top-quality English side that have been on a rampage since the 2015 World Cup. Though India secured a series win, there are problems at sight for Kohli’s side, especially in the top-order. For two series in a row, the openers have not fired, putting extra pressure on the middle-order. More support at the top could have seen a scoreline of 3-0. Suvajit Mustafi evaluates India’s performance in the series and evaluates them on a scale of 10, with the latter being the highest.

Kedar Jadhav, 9/10: Not many remember his match-defining hundred in Zimbabwe in 2015. More famous for his exploits with ball in the New Zealand series, Jadhav cemented his place as the finisher for India, taking further baggage off MS Dhoni’s shoulders. Jadhav produced a near-perfect show in the England series that earned him the Man of the Series award.

Full cricket scorecard: India vs England, 3rd ODI

He lit up the chase with a match-winning hundred at his hometown Pune. He followed that with a brisk 22 in the end stages of the innings at Cuttack. And with his 90, he almost pulled off another incredible chase at Kolkata. He also delivered crucial overs with his off-spin, especially at Cuttack.

Matches: 3 | Runs: 232 | Ave: 77.33 | HS: 120 | SR: 144.1 | 100s: 1 | 50s: 1

Hardik Pandya, 8.5/10: Pandya has only improved since winning Man of the Match award on ODI debut last year. Had India won the final ODI, he would have had another coming his way. He had two very good outings with the ball and contributed with the bat in all the three games.

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His patient 40 not out saw India through at Pune, the quick 19 not out boosted India’s total at Cuttack and his 56 at Kolkata almost won the game for his side. His 3 for 49 in the final ODI was one of the best performances of the series. Pandya will play a crucial role in India’s bid to defend the Champions Trophy.

Matches: 3 | Runs: 115 | Ave: 115 | HS: 56 | SR: 129.2 | 50s: 1 | Wickets: 5| Ave: 31 | Econ: 6.20 | Catches: 1

Yuvraj Singh, 8/10: After three years in the oblivion, one of India’s greatest ODI players made a thumping return to the format in which he had guided his side to a World Cup in 2011. Yuvraj benefitted from the faith Kohli showed in him. He looked good in his short stay at Pune and conquered Cuttack with his 150. He played some of the most attractive shots and continued with his good form in Kolkata before getting caught at deep mid-wicket for 45; it could have been a six on smaller grounds. He was decent with the ball too.

Matches: 3 | Runs: 210 | Ave: 70 | HS: 150 | SR: 107.1 | 100s: 1

Virat Kohli, 7.5/10: Kohli won his first ODI series as full time captain. He became the fastest ODI skipper to 1,000 runs. Amidst this he also got his 27th ODI ton at Pune, setting up the chase along with Jadhav. The best batter in contemporary cricket had another good series but fell short of the benchmark he has set over the years. He went on to score another fifty in Kolkata. Though it came on a losing cause, he was the one lifting the trophy.

Matches: 3 | Runs: 185 | Ave: 61.67 | HS: 122 | SR: 106.9 | 100s: 1 | 50s: 1 | Catches: 1

MS Dhoni, 7/10: His first series in almost a decade as non-captain, the cameras followed Dhoni on the ground perhaps out of habit. Dhoni matched Yuvraj stroke for stroke at Cuttack but faltered in the two chases. The good bit was he got his 10th ODI hundred, his first in over three years. Though he was not at his best behind the stumps against pacers, he continued to exhibit his prowess when the slower bowlers operated.

Matches: 3 | Runs: 165 | Ave: 55 | HS: 134 | SR: 100.6 | 100s: 1 | Dismissals: 4

Ravindra Jadeja, 7/10: Absolute numbers do not reflect how effective Jadeja was. England scored at 6.91 in the series and Jadeja completed his quota of 10 overs in all the three games, giving away runs at 5.23.

In all 3 matches he dismissed Jason Roy, England’s top batter in the series. In the final ODI, he registered his 150th ODI wicket and in doing so joined the elite league of Kapil Dev, Manoj Prabhakar, Sachin Tendulkar and Irfan Pathan as the fifth Indian to the 1,500 run-150 wicket double.

He also contributed with some lusty blows. His fielding was terrific as always. Perhaps he loses some marks because of his senseless dismissal at Pune and the dropped catch that could have cost India the Cuttack game.

Matches: 3 | Runs: 39 | Ave: 19.50 | HS: 16* | SR: 134.5 | Wickets: 4 | Ave: 39.25 | Econ: 5.23 | Catches: 2

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 6.5/10: In demanding conditions for bowlers, poor Bhuvi had the toughest job. He had to bowl during the Powerplay overs and at the death. Bhuvi emerged out in flying colours.

The treatment meted out to him by AB de Villiers in Mumbai last winter did not demoralise him. In fact, he continued his honeymoon run from the Sunrisers Hyderabad camp.

He troubled England openers with swing in Kolkata and his impressive death bowling was perhaps the difference between 321 and 350.

He got the ball to swing and was spot on with his yorkers. The barren wicket column does not do enough justice to his numbers.

Matches: 2 | Wicket: 1| Ave: 119 | Econ R: 6.61

Ravichandran Ashwin, 5.5/10: India’s premier spin bowler had an off series. However, it was his 3 for 65 at Cuttack that contributed massively in India’s win. Otherwise, Jadeja was the better of the two spinners. With Amit Mishra waiting in the wings, Ashwin will be kept on toes.

He supported Pandya well with a 15 not out in the Pune ODI but failed to deliver in the crucial chase at Kolkata.

Matches: 3 | Runs: 16 | Ave: 16 | HS: 15* | SR: 123.1 | Wickets: 3| Ave: 62.67 | Econ: 6.96

Jasprit Bumrah, 5.5/10: He was brilliant in patches but leaked runs despite that. He troubled batsmen in the start in the death but failed to curb runs. The pattern followed throughout the series, but Bumrah was never out of action. He took good catches and effected run outs. It was his dart throw from long-leg that effected the first dismissal of the series.

Matches: 3 | Wickets: 5| Ave: 45.60| Econ R: 7.60 | Catches: 2

Umesh Yadav, 2/10: He played the first game and was dropped for good. Unlike the New Zealand series where we saw his resurgence, Umesh was all over the place and was hit all around the park at Pune.

Matches: 1 | Wickets: 1 | Ave: 63 | Econ: 9 | Catches: 1

KL Rahul, 1/10: There has been competition for the slot of the opener, and Rahul squandered three opportunities. He scored 8, 5 and 11 which hurt his side, especially in the final ODI.

Matches: 3 | Runs: 24 | Ave: 8 | HS: 11 | SR: 70.58 | Catches: 1

Shikhar Dhawan, 1/10: After giving him 2 games, it did not make sense to drop Dhawan from the third. Making a comeback, Dhawan was far from his usual touch. He made the sin of throwing his wicket away. Ahead of the Champions Trophy, his dubious form has added to the side’s quandary.

Matches: 2 | Runs: 12 | Ave: 6 | HS: 11 | SR: 48 | Catches: 1

Ajinkya Rahane, 1/10: He got a chance in the final ODI but ended up wasting it. This has cast a shadow of doubt over Rahane’s future as a limited-overs cricketer. Apart from getting bowled to David Willey, the only notable act of his in this series was coming out as a 12th man in the first ODI at Pune to deliver some messages (in Marathi as heard over stump microphone) to Jadhav.

Matches: 1 | Runs: 1 | Ave: 1 | HS: 1 | SR: 16.7

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