SKY flops; David shines: Analysing RCB, CSK, MI players performance in IND Vs AUS T20Is

How IPL stars performed in IND-AUS T20Is [Source: AFP Photo]

The India vs Australia T20I series is done and dusted, and the Men in Blue prevailed over the hosts, 2-1, to capture the series. Two games were abandoned due to rain, but the Indian team was the better of the two, as the Suryakumar Yadav-led side gain the much-needed momentum ahead of the T20 World Cup.

Several high-profile IPL stars also featured in the series, and the big names from RCB, CSK, and MI performed exceedingly well to hand India a series victory. In this piece, we look at the big players from the three big IPL teams (MI, CSK, and RCB), and how they performed in the India vs Australia T20Is.

How RCB players performed in IND-AUS T20Is

Jitesh Sharma

Jitesh Sharma finally got his chance in the Australia T20Is to showcase his skills, and the RCB keeper-batter didn’t disappoint as he won the third T20I for India with a quick-fire knock. He failed in the fourth T20I match, but his overall performance was exemplary.

(Jitesh vs Australia)

• The stats might only show 25 runs in the series, but he played a brilliant cameo of 22 unbeaten runs to help India level the series in the third T20I. He also had a solid strike rate as the keeper-batter had a great outing during his first Australian tour.

2) Tim David

Another RCB star who had a great outing in the T20Is. He finished as the third-highest run-getter in the series, and was Australia’s best batter by a country mile. 

(Tim David vs India)

• 89 runs with a strike rate of 181 defined Tim David’s performance vs India. He also scored a brilliant 74 in the Hobart T20I and was the lone warrior for the team in the entire series as the Aussies lost against India.

3) Josh Hazlewood

RCB’s best bowler last season, Josh Hazlewood, only played two matches in the T20I series, but he picked up 3 wickets at an impressive economy of just 5.29 as the Indian batters simply couldn’t target him, showcasing his mastery across different phases of T20I bowling.

How CSK players performed in IND-AUS T20Is

1) Shivam Dube

Dube had a mixed T20I series in Australia as the batter failed to deliver the goods and could only score 26 runs with a strike rate of 130. He was used in multiple batting positions by Gautam Gambhir, but Dube the batter, failed to leave his mark.

However, he managed to pick up 3 wickets as the all-rounder showed his prowess with the white cherry in hand.

2) Nathan Ellis

If David was Australia’s star with the bat, then Nathan Ellis was their best bowler in the T2OIs vs India. The CSK pacer was at his imperial best as the Indian batters struggled to read his variations in the series.

(Nathan Ellis vs India)

• 9 wickets in five games with an economy of 8.02 defined Ellis’ T2OI season. He was the only Australian bowler who troubled Abhishek Sharma with his skills and he was outstanding across different phases of the game.

3) How MI players performed in IND-AUS T20Is

Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah

The MI stars had an average Australian tour as the trio of Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma and Jasprit Bumrah failed to leave their mark despite India’s series win. The two batters, Surya and Tilak were disappointing to say the least.

(Surya and Tilak vs AUS)

• The duo failed to deliver the goods, and Suryakumar’s performance was well below his lofty T2OI standards. While the batter had a brilliant strike rate of 171, the captain of the team could only score 84 runs and performed only in a solitary contest that got abandoned.
• Tilak Varma, on the other hand, couldn’t replicate his Asia Cup finale heroics as he added only 34 runs in four matches and was also dropped from the series finale in Brisbane.
• On the other hand, Bumrah could only pick up 3 wickets as the star pacer struggled in the series, but had a brilliant economy rate of 6.58, showcasing his exemplary control over lines and lengths.

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