India vs Australia 2020: T20I Series Player Report Card

India vs Australia 2020: Virat Kohli, the standout Indian player of the series as we look at the player performance report card for the T20I series.

The T20I series felt like a replay of the ODI series, but from the other end. While Australia won the ODI series 2-1 with 2 wins from first two games, India won the T20I series 2-1 with 2 wins from the first two games. The gravity of both the series can be determined by the audience, but the intensity was amazing in both the series. 

The T20I series saw equal competition from both the ends. While the scoreline does suggest India to be a better side, in practicality, the competitiveness was almost equal from both sides, and hardly there was anything that separated both the teams.

Nevertheless, how did the players of both the teams perform? Let’s find out in our India vs Australia T20I series Player Performance Report card. Before that, let’s quickly understand our unique and unbiased methodology.

Stats Wizard Methodology:

Batting: As always, we have analyzed the batting performances basis the batting rating calculated from the overall aspect of the game such as runs scored, strike rate bonus, consistency, number of fours & Sixes, and the number of match-winning & good knocks. 

Bowling: We have analyzed the bowling performances basis the bowling rating calculated from the overall aspect of the game such as wickets taken, economy rate bonus, consistency, dot balls, maidens, and the number of match-winning and good spells. 

The series didn’t see too many good contributions, and hence we would be focusing only on the top 5 players of the series.

#5: Hardik Pandya (India) – 5.7

Inns: 3 || Runs: 78 || Avg: 39 || SR: 156

After a successful ODI series, Hardik continued his scintillating form in the T20I series too. For the time Hardik was at the crease, India had their hopes high of a good finish. That’s the impact this series has created on Hardik’s perception as the best available finisher.

His match-winning knock in the second T20I was simply exceptional, and one has to accept the fact that he is currently Team India’s most fearsome finisher in the limited-overs format. So, Hardik gets a rating of 5.7 for his performance, which could have been better if he had finished the third match too 

#4: Mitchell Swepson (Aus) – 6.6

Inns: 3 || Wkts: 5 || Avg: 13.8 || ER: 6.9

In the world of Zampa, Swepson has made a niche for himself, and his performance is only the highlight of the quality he possesses. He started decently in the first match having bowled only two overs, but picking the all-important wicket of Kohli. But the next two matches were amazing, and in the third match, he bowled a match-winning spell of 3-23. Overall, Swepson gets a rating of 6.6.

#3: T Natarajan (India) – 7.8

Inns: 3 || Wkts: 6 || Avg: 13.8 || ER: 6.9

What a find this guy has been for Team India. From the first match he played for Team India, Natarajan aka Nattu has been excellent. His pin-point Yorkers and dead-accurate bowling has been the highlighting point of the T20I series. His debut of 3-30 is the seventh-best debut for Team India.

It certainly looks like Natarajan has all the potential to become India’s best death-overs bowler alongside Bumrah, and we just can’t wait to see these two bowlers bowl in tandem. So, Natarajan gets a rating of 7.8 for his performance.

#2: Virat Kohli (India) – 8.2

Inns: 3 || Runs: 133 || Avg: 66.5 || SR: 143

After the failure in the first innings where he was undone by Swepson’s brilliant ball, Kohli, the champion has come back stronger in the next two innings. Given the way Kohli was timing the ball in the third T20I, he would have won that for India, only if he had support at the other end. Nevertheless, for being the second-best player of the series, Kohli gets a rating of 8.2 

#1: Matthew Wade (Aus) – 9.4

Inns: 3 || Runs: 145 || Avg: 48.3 || SR: 154.3

Wasn’t the first-choice opener for Australia at the start, but the aggressive intent by Matthew Wade has made some statement for Australia to reconsider his batting position. He batted at 5 in the first match, and he failed at that position, but the next two games where he opened, he was simply mind-blowing.

Two fifties in two innings thereafter as an opener, and ending the series as the leading run-scorer at a strike rate of 154 is a fine show from Matthew Wade. Once Warner comes back, Australia will have to have a headache to deal with. Nevertheless, overall, Matthew Wade gets a rating of 9.4 for his performance. 

Apart from these 5, the other top players have the following rating, 

1. Moises Henriques (Aus) – 6.3
2. KL Rahul (India): 5.3
3. Yuzvendra Chahal (India) – 4.8 
4. Glenn Maxwell (Aus) – 4.8
5. Adam Zampa (Aus) – 4.7
6. Shikhar Dhawan (India) – 4.4
7. Washington Sundar (India) –  4.1
8. Steve Smith (Aus) – 4.1
9. Sanju Samson (India) – 2.8
10. Deepak Chahar (India) –  1.9

Thanks for reading! After seeing the report card, who do you think performed the best in the India vs Australia T20I series? Please, share your thoughts on business@cricalytics.com

ALSO READ: India vs Australia 2020: ODI Series Player Performance Report Card

© AK4Tsay1 Cricalytics

Adesh Kothari

Adesh Kothari is the founder of AK4Tsay1 Cricalytics with over 20 years of experience following Cricket.

Cricket to him is like what Football is to Lionel Messi, Singing is to Lata Mangeshkar, Dancing is to Michael Jackson, and Acting is to Clint Eastwood.

Besides his effervescent love for Cricket, Adesh is an MBA by qualification.