Indian team lost the five-match ODI series against Australia 2-3, with the 35-run loss in the fifth and deciding ODI match at Delhi. Usman Khawaja and Adam Zampa starred for Australia, as Indian batting failed to chase a target once again in the series.
The series was the last international assignment for the Indian team before the World Cup, as the Indian players will now be engaged in the IPL 2019. This was also the last chance for the Indian team to try out various team combinations and playing XIs for the World Cup.
Indian team won the first two ODIs in Hyderabad and Nagpur, but Australia came back to win the series with wins in Ranchi, Mohali, and Delhi. Their win in Mohali was amazing as they chased down 359 runs, the highest chase against India in an ODI in India.
The Indian team saw failure due to the opening combination not scoring runs and the middle order not supporting the efforts of Virat Kohli. Taking the performances into consideration, Team COC presents the Indian team rating for the Australia ODI series.
VIRAT KOHLI- 8/10
Virat Kohli top-scored for India with 310 runs with two centuries to his name. He also reached the mark of 41 centuries in ODI cricket and was by far the best batsman for his team. His failures to get big scores in the last two ODI matches in chases, resulted in a series loss for India.
KEDAR JADHAV- 5/10
Kedar Jadhav tried his best at no.6 and helped India win the first match in Hyderabad when India was chasing 237 and was 99 for 4. His best score was 81* and he looked stoic at his batting position, giving good signs for the World Cup.
MS DHONI- 4/10
MS Dhoni played three ODIs in the series and helped India win the first match at Hyderabad. However, he also scored a first ball duck in Nagpur and in what might be his final ODI in India, in his home town Ranchi, failed to pick a quick one from Zampa and was bowled for 26.
ROHIT SHARMA- 4/10
Rohit Sharma managed 202 runs with 95 of those coming in the fourth match at Mohali. Otherwise, he was guilty of getting starts and then getting out, eating up deliveries in the process. His brain fade moment in the last ODI, when he was stumped going trying to hit out Zampa despite the team needing him the most and was out just after scoring a half-century.
SHIKHAR DHAWAN- 3/10
Shikhar Dhawan has one score of significance, a 143 in the Mohali ODI which helped India put on 358/9. Otherwise, he scored 34 runs in the remaining four ODIs, including a golden duck in one of the matches.
VIJAY SHANKAR- 5/10
Vijay Shankar showed spark with his batting as he was used as a floater. His highest score was 46, but he will be remembered more for defending 11 runs in the second ODI at Nagpur. He dismissed two batsmen in the last over including a dangerous Marcus Stoinis on the first ball to seal a win for India.
RISHABH PANT- 2/10
Rishabh Pant got a chance to play in the last two ODI matches in place of MS Dhoni and he would rather forget these matches, as his lapses behind the stumps probably cost India the match in Mohali, while his inability to absorb the pressure meant that he failed with the bat as well, continuously trying fancy shots, instead of making runs with proper cricketing shots.
KL RAHUL- 2/10
KL Rahul was picked in the Indian team and he raised hopes of fans with two good innings against Australia in the T20I series. He got to play just one game and was out for 26 and is more or less out of Indian team’s plans for the World Cup.
BHUVNESHWAR KUMAR- 3/10
Bhuvneshwar Kumar played two matches and picked four wickets, he also scored a brilliant 46 in the last ODI, giving the Indian team a glimmer of hope of chasing down 272. However, the death specialist failed to bowl the yorkers and slower balls in the Mohali ODI, as Australia chased down 359-run target thanks to Ashton Turner’s whirlwind innings.
RAVINDRA JADEJA- 2/10
Ravindra Jadeja replaced an injured Hardik Pandya in the ODI series and though he bowled economically, he managed just 3 wickets in four matches. His economy was 4.75 but the inability to pick wickets meant that there was no pressure put in middle overs on the opposition.
AMBATI RAYUDU- 1/10
Going into this ODI series, Team India saw Ambati Rayudu as the answer to their no.4 spot conundrum, but at the end of the series, Rayudu has left the team with more questions, given that he made just 33 runs in three matches. He was dropped from the team for the last two matches and looks like his spot in the Indian team for the World Cup is also in danger.
KULDEEP YADAV- 5/10
Kuldeep Yadav did pick wickets, 10 to be specific in the series, but those wickets came at the cost of an economy of 6.04. The Australian attacked him from the start and though he picked wickets, the runs he gave away haunted India in the end.
JASPRIT BUMRAH- 4/10
Jasprit Bumrah came back from a well-earned rest and picked 7 wickets in five matches. He was economical and bowled yorkers at will. His last spell in the Delhi ODI proved to be the difference between the two sides, as he went for runs in the death overs and India lost with a similar margin.
MOHAMMAD SHAMI- 3/10
Mohammad Shami picked 5 wickets in four matches, but looked in a good rhythm throughout the series and bowled with good pace, hitting his yorkers and showed great change of pace while bowling at the death.
YUZVENDRA CHAHAL- 1/10
Yuzvendra Chahal must curse his luck that the only game in the series he got came in Mohali. Despite having a mountain of runs to defend, dew rendered Chahal ineffective as he picked just one wicket for 80 runs, as Australia chased down 359 with ease.
