The Champions Trophy may have ended in defeat for India but let’s not take anything away from a stellar performance throughout the tournament, especially with the bat. Here, we rate the players out of 10:
Shikhar Dhawan (9/10)
Even after Rohit and Kohli fell, there were plenty of us who felt Dhawan would be able to lift us. Though he couldn’t play well in the final, he was excellent throughout the tournament and even went home with the highest run-getter award. Dhawan was a real treat to watch this CT.
Rohit Sharrma (8/10):
He was injured for a real long time before he came into the tournament and many doubted his place in the squad. He played superbly throughout and scored fantastically with the bat. He was majestic until the final.
Virat Kohli (8.5/10):
Kohli was another one who stepped up his game for the Champions Trophy after a disappointing IPL. His finishing ability once again came to the fore and he was able to complete most of them except the Sri Lanka and the Pakistan game.
Yuvraj Singh (6.5/10):
Yuvi was relatively untested through the tournament and except the initial Pakistani game, he was hardly required. He finished the game against the Lankans but could not turn up for the final. Was not required with the ball either.
MS Dhoni: (6/10):
Ex-Captain Cool too played one important innings in the tournament – that against Sri Lanka. He was untested and that showed in the final as he was surprised by a short one. Dhoni was excellent as ever behind the stumps however.
Kedar Jadhav (5.5/10):
Jadhav was part of the middle order that really had not much to do except in the final. He played a couple of matches and hit a few boundaries but that was it. He faltered in the final but picked up wickets with the ball as a part-timer.
Hardik Pandya (7/10):
May have failed with the ball but was superb in the final. He was well and truly in the zone when it mattered the most and was undone by some poor running by his teammate. Pandya will feel confident however and will look to work on his bowling.
Ravindra Jadeja (5/10):
Jadeja might be the most hated man after a poor showing in the final but let’s not forget the role he played last time we won it. He was poor with the ball and wasn’t required with the bat but his fielding was excellent throughout.
Ravichandran Ashwin (4/10):
Ashwin only played the SA game well. He was AWOL against both the Bangladeshis and the Pakistanis and the team’s dependence on him backfired. Not his best tournament but he will come back stronger.
Jasprit Bumrah (6/10):
What is it with him bowling no-balls when it matters the most. Bumrah had a good tournament otherwise with some good death bowling. Was terrible in the final and will look to move on sooner rather than later.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (8/10):
The only player perhaps, apart from Pandya who can walk with his head high after the final, Bhuvi was excellent. Throughout, he improved his death bowling and was able to contain the batsmen and apply pressure on them.
Umesh Yadav:
Was good in the games he played but was benched in place of Ashwin. Will be a little bitter that he couldn’t play the final but is a mainstay for sure.
By Rohit Nair
