Shreyas Iyer - 5/10, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi? Indian Players' Ratings After Zimbabwe T20Is

India Cricket Team - (Source: AP)

On Sunday, July 26, India whitewashed Zimbabwe after handing the Sikandar Raza-led side a 35-run defeat to clinch the trophy. Shreyas Iyer won his first series as India captain, and the Men in Blue also finished the tour with a near-perfect display.

Things were mostly positive under VVS Laxman in Zimbabwe, but there were a few issues that India need to address before their next T20I assignment. Hence, this article will rate India players’ performances in Zimbabwe.

India Players' Ratings After Zimbabwe T20Is

1. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi - 9/10

Runs: 151, Matches: 3, Average: 50.33, SR: 196.10

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi finally replicated his IPL heroics in India colours against Zimbabwe. The 15-year-old, who had a poor UK tour, amassed 151 runs in 3 innings, averaging 50.33.

Sooryavanshi started the series with a quickfire fifty and focused on his strike rate in the 2nd T20I when he scored a 9-ball 20. The RR opener also finished the series on a high with 81 (49) and missed out on a well-deserved century.

2. Abhishek Sharma - 2/10

Runs: 11, Matches: 3, Average: 3.67, SR: 55.00

Abhishek Sharma had a series to forget. The southpaw scored just 11 runs in three matches, the fewest by an Indian batter in a three-match T20I series. 

However, Sharma rolled his arm in the 2nd and 3rd T20Is. He picked up three wickets in the 2nd T20I, which helped India register a 90-run win over Zimbabwe.

3. Ishan Kishan - 8/10

Runs: 145, Matches: 3, Average: 48.33, SR: 154.26

Ishan Kishan also had a lot of pressure before the Zimbabwe series because of a poor England tour. However, he scored 145 runs in 3 innings, the second-most runs by an Indian on this tour after Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

Ishan got the start in the 1st T20I and scored a slow 35 (24). He returned to his best in the 2nd T20I, scoring 81 (44). The Southpaw scored 29 (26) in the 3rd T20I and didn’t fail even once in the entire series.

Also Read: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Asked To Be Fast-Tracked To India’s 2027 World Cup Squad

4. Shreyas Iyer - 5/10

Runs: 80, Matches: 3, Average: 40.0, SR: 129.03

India captain Shreyas Iyer had a great series as a captain, but failed to get going with the bat. Iyer scored just 80 runs in 3 innings, and failed to score a solitary fifty-plus score. However, he got the start he wanted in all the matches, but failed to convert it into a big score.

5. Tilak Varma - 7.5/10

Runs: 77, Matches: 3, Average: 77, SR: 179.03

Tilak Varma got to silence his critics in style during the Zimbabwe tour. The left-handed batter, who was under the scanner for his strike rate, scored 60 (29) in the 2nd T20I. Other than that, he didn’t get to bat enough in the other two T20Is and scored just 77 runs in 3 innings, averaging 77.

Further, Tilak batted with a strike-rate of 179.07.

6. Rinku Singh - 5.5/10

Runs: 37, Matches: 2, Average: 18.50, SR: 165.18

Rinku Singh scored just 37 runs in 2 innings, averaging 18.50. The KKR vice-captain didn’t get to bat in the 1st T20I, but he failed to get going in the rest of the two T20Is. Rinku scored 12 (8) in the 2nd T20I and 25 (14) in the 3rd T20I.

Although due to the limited batting opportunity, Rinku did decently as a finisher.

7. Shivam Dube - 4/10

Runs: 6, Matches: 2, Average: 8, SR: 200

Wickets: 2, Matches: 2, Economy Rate: 7.94

Shivam Dube didn’t get to bat in the 1st match and scored an unbeaten 6(3) in the 2nd T20I. The CSK star was rested in the 3rd T20I to make space for Suryansh Shedge. With the ball, Dube took two wickets in 2 matches, with an economy of 7.94.

Overall, it is difficult to rate Dube on his batting, but his bowling has been decent and effective.

8. Ravi Bishnoi - 6.5/10

Wickets: 3, Matches: 3, Economy Rate: 5.67

Ravi Bishnoi also arrived in Zimbabwe facing a lot of criticism. The right-arm spinner took just 3 wickets in 3 innings, but his economy rate was just 5.67. Bishnoi kept the scoring rate in check, which allowed other bowlers to capitalise on the pressure.

9. Prince Yadav - 8/10

Wickets: 4, Matches: 2, Economy Rate: 5.44

Prince Yadav had a brilliant series, picking up 4 wickets in 2 innings. He bowled with an economy of 5.44 and was India’s 2nd best bowler on the tour. 

10. Ashok Sharma - 7/10

Wickets: 1, Matches: 2, Economy Rate: 6.13

Ashok Sharma made his India debut against Zimbabwe and had to wait till the 3rd T20I to pick up his maiden wicket. 

Ashok bowled a wicketless but economical spell in the 1st T20I, but was dropped for the 2nd match. He returned for the 3rd T20I and registered the figures of 1/20 in four overs. Hence, it was a decent debut.

11. Mayank Yadav - 9/10

Wickets: 5, Matches: 3, Economy Rate: 6.55

The biggest surprise of the series was to see Mayank Yadav breathing fire. The injury-prone seamer picked up 5 wickets in 3 innings. The LSG seamer took a couple in the 1st T20I and a three-wicket haul in the 3rd T20I.

Mayank Yadav picked up a first-ball wicket twice in the series and seems to have earned the selectors’ backing for upcoming T20I tours.

12. Yash Thakur - 8.5/10

Wickets: 4, Matches: 2, Economy Rate: 9.38

Yash Thakur also had an impressive start to his India career as he picked up 4 wickets in 2 innings. However, he was on the expensive side and bowled with an economy of 9.38. 

Nonetheless, it was a great debut series for Yash Thakur, one to cherish for life.

Also Read: Tilak Varma's Strike Rate Debate: Are Numbers Strong Enough To Counter The Narrative?