India defeated Bangladesh by 8 wickets to lift their Asia Cup title in Bangladesh. India throughout the tournament looked impressive and they deservingly were crowned champions. India, unbeaten throughout the tournament, displayed great cricket to win the hearts of many.
Also read: ICC T20 World Cup 2016: Full List of WT20 2016 Teams & Players
Virat Kohli was undoubtedly the star of the tournament. However, it was not only him who excelled. The bowlers too did a commendable job throughout the tournament. It was more like a team effort that propelled India to glory.
So let’s look at the player ratings for the Indian cricket team players in the Asia Cup 2016.
Shikhar Dhawan - 7
The talented southpaw from Delhi had a disastrous start to the tournament. He was unable to make double digit scores in his first two games. Even in the game against UAE, Dhawan looked scratchy as he registered his double digit score in the tournament. The left-hander looked rattled in a pitch which offered swing and bounce. He also missed the game against Pakistan due to an injury. But the dashing Delhi opener came back to form when it mattered the most.
In the all-important Asia Cup final, Dhawan scored a magnificent 60 off 44 balls against Bangladesh to help India win their 6th Asia Cup. His partnership with Kohli swung the match in India’s favour after Rohit Sharma got out early in the final. Dhawan was decent in the field too.
Rohit Sharma – 6.5
The elegant right-hander from Mumbai started the Asia Cup with a bang. He scored a crucial 83 in the opening match against Bangladesh and bailed India out of trouble. But after that game, he seemed to have hit a rough patch. In the game against Pakistan, he was undone by a Mohammad Amir beauty. Even in the game against Sri Lanka, Nuwan Kulasekara outdid Rohit with an out-swinger.
Rohit failed to perform in the final too. Bangladesh fast bowler Al-Amin attacked Rohit’s weak zone and got the right-hander early. The talented right-hander will look to get back to form in the upcoming T20 world cup. Rohit fielded well in the tournament.
Virat Kohli- 9.5
This man seems to be in a different zone altogether. Churning out exceptional performances match after match has become a routine for this guy. Barring a failure in the game against Bangladesh, Kohli was literally unstoppable in the tournament. On tracks which offered lateral seam movement, Kohli displayed his rock-solid technique to come out on top. He also had to counter the breathtaking spell of Mohammad Amir to guide India to victory in the game against Pakistan.
In the final too, he was exceptional. He formed a partnership with Shikhar Dhawan and kept India’s hopes alive in the final. He kept his composure and played risk-free cricket to ensure India’s victory. This man has surely become a chase-master. Kohli’s fielding too was energetic and it was his throw in the final which led to Mushfiqur Rahim’s run out in the final.
Suresh Raina- 5.5
Suresh Raina had a tournament to forget. He was off-colour for most of the tournament and his form remains a concern for Team India ahead of the T20 World Cup. Raina looked all at sea against the searing pace and swing of Mohammad Amir. He looked patchy against spin too.
Raina scored 25 in the game against Sri Lanka but he was never at his fluent best. It is imperative for Raina to get back to form in the T20 World Cup as he is crucial to India’s chances.
Yuvraj Singh- 7
Yuvraj Singh had a decent tournament. He looked a bit scratchy at the start of the tournament. Though he stitched an important partnership with Kohli in the game against Pakistan yet he didn’t look comfortable against the likes of Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Irfan. Somehow he managed to scrape through and was there at the end when India defeated Pakistan by 5 wickets.
The veteran cricketer showed glimpses of his big-hitting prowess in the game against Sri Lanka. It was a typical Yuvraj knock bejeweled with sixes and fours. Yuvraj bowled well in the tournament too. He picked up the crucial wicket of Umar Akmal with his first ball. Yuvraj’s return to form and fluency is a welcome sign for the Indian team as everyone knows that this man is a genuine matchwinner.
MS Dhoni- 8
MS Dhoni didn’t have to do much with the bat throughout the tournament. However in the final, the skipper promoted himself up the order and finished the match with a flourish. It was vintage Dhoni as he clocked back the years with two huge hits over the long on. He led his side well in the tournament and was good with his bowling changes. He gave youngsters like Pandya a chance to express themselves by promoting them higher up the order.
Dhoni was brilliant behind the stumps too. With those lightning fast hands, he effected run-outs of Shahid Afridi and Mushfiqur Rahim.
Hardik Pandya- 8
This man has to be the find of the tournament. India always were in search of a fast-bowling all-rounder and Pandya perfectly suits the bill. He bowls at a decent pace and can swing the ball too. He has an effective bouncer too which can trouble the best in the business.
Pandya picked up 7 wickets in the tournament and he scored some useful runs with the bat too. Just in final, he looked a bit rusty. That’s understandable given he was playing his first final. Pandya fielded well too and plucked a great catch to dismiss Chamara Kapugedara in the game against Sri Lanka. If Pandya carries on the good work, he is surely going to be an asset to the side.
Ravindra Jadeja- 7.5
The left-arm spinner did his job well. He picked up wickets and bowled a tight line and length. Barring the game against Sri Lanka, he had decent figures against his name. Jadeja was exceptional in the field too. His strong left-arm throw got rid of Shahid Afridi. Jadeja with his left-arm spin is a valuable asset and Jadeja’s form will be critical to India’s success in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Ravichandran Ashwin -7.5
The premier spinner of India didn’t have much to do throughout the tournament. On tracks which assisted pace bowlers, Dhoni didn’t bring his off-spinner into action for the better part of the game. The seamers picked up wickets at the start. However in the final, the talented spinner showed why he is rated so highly.
Ashwin started the proceedings for India in the final and bowled economically. He also picked up the key wicket of Shakib Al Hasan in his last over.
Jaspreet Bumrah- 8.5
This man continued his good form and is soon becoming an asset to the side. He bowls well up front and he is equally good in the death overs too. Bumrah provided early breakthroughs and came back at the end to contain the opposition. His yorkers are hard to put away and he can be the messiah to solve India’s death bowling concerns. He also earned eulogies from his Skipper too.
Ashish Nehra- 8
The old wily Ashish Nehra is surely back with a bang. He has become the leader of the pack and he is using all his experience to help the side. Nehra provided early breakthroughs in every match he played.
He bowled a good line and troubled the batsman on tracks which assisted him and picked up 5 wickets in the tournament with an impressive average of 13.20. It seems that the veteran is all geared up for the upcoming World T20 as he aims to add another winner’s medal to his collection. This surely is his last shot at glory for the national side.
Apart from these players, Ajinkya Rahane, Harbhajan Singh, Pawan Negi and Bhuvaneswar Kumar played a game each.
Brand-new app in a brand-new avatar! Download CricRocket for fast cricket scores, rocket flicks, super notifications and much more! 🚀☄️
