INDIA REPORT CARD: Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah excel... but Virat Kohli has questions to answer

The Cricketer runs the rule over the performances of India's players during the 2019 Cricket World Cup...

Virat Kohli

9 matches, 442 runs, batting average 55.25, 6 catches

Peaks and troughs are part and parcel of a player's career, but very few endured as many as India's captain in this tournament alone. His batting record in the World Cup saw him post four half-centuries, a fine achievement for many batsmen but for a man with 41 ODI hundreds to his name, the lack of a three-figure score drew discernible attention.

His captaincy inspired and frustrated in equal measure, and his failure in the knockout game, alongside his feeble complaints around boundary sizes and semi-final arrangements made it, for a player of his calibre, a disappointing tournament personally, but reaching the last four demonstrates the side's consistent fortitude at ICC tournaments.

B-

Rohit Sharma

9 matches, 648 runs, batting average 81.00, 4 catches

Record breaker with five centuries at a single tournament and he could yet be the highest run scorer of the tournament, Sharma's elegance and striking was a joy to watch on his way to winning a number of games for his side.

Noticeable that India struggled when he was dismissed early, and his departure against New Zealand was a point of no return. Deserved to be in a World Cup winning side in what may be his final 50-over ICC tournament.

A+

KL Rahul

9 matches, 360 runs, batting average 45.00, 1 catch

Frustration is the word that comes to mind with Rahul.

Promoted to the top of the order from no.4 after Shikhar Dhawan's tournament-ending injury, the talent was evident with half-centuries against Pakistan and Bangladesh and a hundred against Sri Lanka, but some of his dismissals provoked feelings of profligacy of such skill with rash shots and poor game awareness. Wasn't at his greatest in the field either, but if he can become more consistent with bat in hand, he will likely be part of the side in 2023.

C

Rohit Sharma hit five magnificent hundreds at the World Cup

Shikhar Dhawan

2 matches, 125 runs, batting average 62.50, 0 catches

Looked in such good touch before the thumb fracture that ruled him out for the rest of the tournament.

Carried on with the problem to score a hundred against Australia, but India will in hindsight bemoan the loss of their experienced opener so early on, particularly given his record in ICC tournaments in England. India just did not pose the same threat at the top of the order despite Sharma’s incredible tournament.

B+

Vijay Shankar

3 matches, 58 runs, batting average 29.00, 2 wickets, bowling average 11.00, 2 catches

With Dhawan out injured, Shankar was brought in to the mother of all games against Pakistan and produced one of the moments of the match by dismissing Imam ul-Haq off his first ball in World Cups.

However, at no.4 he failed to make an impact with the bat with a highest score of 29, and the 28-year-old’s inclusion as a batsman primarily was befuddling before he was also ruled out of the tournament with a toe injury.

C-

Rishabh Pant

4 matches, 116 runs, batting average 29.00, 1 catch

A man many people felt should have been in the original 15-man squad, the final product did not quite match the hype beforehand.

Provided some entertainment against England and Bangladesh and with some tumbles in an unfamiliar role in the outfield, but the pressure of a semi-final was eventually too much as he hauled out to Mitchell Santner. However, undoubtedly will be one of the cornerstones of the XI for 2023 in home conditions.

C-

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Dinesh Karthik

3 matches, 14 runs, batting average 7.00, 3 catches

A bizarre selection as a backup wicketkeeper over Pant, Karthik was introduced into the side against Bangladesh instead of Kedar Jadhav and did very little to justify his selection.

Was impressive in the field but his final appearance at World Cups saw him calm the onslaught but fail to capitalise having done so. One of the most mind-boggling decisions of the tournament to include him, particularly when he wasn’t chosen to keep when MS Dhoni went off the field briefly against England.

E

Kedar Jadhav

6 matches, 80 runs, batting average 40.00, 0 wickets, 4 catches

A shoulder injury before the tournament was not the ideal preparation, but this was a shadow of the player that played so well for India in the Champions Trophy on these shores two years ago.

Came in in difficult situations largely and played a crucial innings in India’s slender win over Afghanistan, but this was a likely a tame ending to a fleeting international career.

D

^{Dinesh Karthik's World Cup ended with a whimper}

Hardik Pandya

9 matches, 226 runs, batting average 32.28, 10 wickets, bowling average 44.70, 3 catches

The allround talent that India believe in so deeply had his moments in this tournament. The belligerent 48 against Australia with India well set looked to have put Pandya in fine form for the rest of the tournament, but aside from a 45 against England there were very few fireworks with the bat.

He will have to take the harsh truths from his dismissal against New Zealand if he harbours ambitons of filling India’s no.4 void, but his bowling form nevertheless was a huge bonus for Kohli with plenty of wickets taken and variations demonstrated. 

C+

MS Dhoni

9 matches, 273 runs, batting average 45.50, 7 catches, 3 stumpings

For all of his World Cup pedigree, Dhoni’s 2019 legacy leaves behind one of slow strike rates and indifferent wicketkeeping.

Did not reflect the reasons why fans had fallen in love with him, and his meandering innings against England remains puzzling to this day. Played the situation well against New Zealand but could not muster one final flurry in what should be his final appearance for a country he has served so admirably.

D

Ravindra Jadeja

2 matches, 77 runs, batting average 77.00, 2 wickets, bowling average 37.00, 3 catches

Those comments from Sanjay Manjrekar that he was a bits and pieces cricketer look to have eventually triggered one of the best performances in World Cup semi-final history.

Had been reduced to a fielding role for a large part of the tournament, and it was his brilliance which helped break England’s opening partnership at Edgbaston.

But once involved with the side he maintained those levels in the outfield and combined them with economical spells of bowling and a battering 77 to bring India back into the game in their glorious failure against New Zealand.

A-

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

6 matches, 2 runs, batting average 1.00, 10 wickets, bowling average 26.90, 1 catch

Blew hot and cold throughout the tournament but looked to be coming into some sort of form before his hamstring injury against Pakistan.

Looked a touch down on speed which has increased over the last couple of years, but largely when conditions favoured him, he chipped in with key scalps. Was in stiff competition with Mohammed Shami for a spot, and he will be for a few more years yet.

B-

^{Ravindra Jadeja nearly saw India through to the final}

Kuldeep Yadav

7 matches, 1 run, 6 wickets, bowling average 56.16, 0 catches

One of the biggest losers for India in this tournament. Was brought into the side a couple of years to take wickets in the middle overs, he struggled to live up that expectation.

Bowled an excellent speel against Pakistan including a ripper to dismiss Babar Azam, but has been found out slightly, as Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes took to him. Hasn’t quite found a way to fight back since losing his novelty on the international stage.

D-

Yuzvendra Chahal

8 matches, 5 runs, batting average 5.00, 12 wickets, bowling average 36.83, 4 catches

Bowled courageously with varied success. It began so well against South Africa, but England really targeted him at Edgbaston as he recorded his worst ODI figures ever of 0-88.

Took key wickets throughout the tournament though and should be someone India persist with.

B-

Mohammed Shami

4 matches, 2 runs, batting average 0.66, 14 wickets, bowling average 13.78, 3 catches

Finally got his chance to make an impact through the injury to Kumar, and how he made his introduction with a hat-trick to seal victory against Afghanistan. Similarly as effective against West Indies, and took five wickets against England even if he was expensive.

Surprising that he was left out of the semi-final line-up, but his ODI form in this calendar year must mean he is in consideration for a regular place in the side for the next couple of years despite his tendency to leak runs at times.

B

Jasprit Bumrah

9 matches, 1 run, 18 wickets, bowling average 20.61, 1 catch

What a performer this man is for India, and consistency in abundance. Opening the bowling or at the death, the paceman combines bullseye accuracy with variations and surprising bounce on conducive matches.

India will no doubt build their bowling around this sensational fast bowler. Figures of two for nine against West Indies summarised how miserly he can be.

A+

Did not feature: Mayank Agarwal

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