India vs New Zealand 2017: Rating the Indian cricketers after T20I series

Going into the series against the No. 1-ranked T20I side in the world, India had never beaten New Zealand in T20Is. All of that changed in Ashish Nehra's farewell match as India beat the Black Caps and took a 1-0 lead in the series.

While New Zealand bounced back to take the second on the back of Colin Munro's unbeaten century, India continued their impressive record of winning all their T20I series deciders in three-match series by claiming a six-run win at Thiruvananthapuram.

While there were some brilliant performances, there were some forgettable ones as well. Here is how the Indian cricketers performed during the T20I series against New Zealand:

Openers

Shikhar Dhawan - 6/10

It was the perfect start for Shikhar Dhawan, who scored only his third T20I fifty and his career-best score on his home ground in Delhi. The century partnership with Rohit Sharma, which is the third-best opening partnership in T20I history set the perfect platform for India who won the first T20I. However, it was all downhill for the 31-year-old after that as he managed just seven runs after scoring 80 in the first T20I.

Rohit Sharma - 6/10

Much like Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, too, had a great start to the T20I series before his form took a turn for the worse. While he played a crucial hand in India ending their losing streak against New Zealand in T20Is, he didn't have a great finish to the series. While he fared slightly better than Dhawan, he still only scored 13 runs in the last two matches,

Middle-order

Kohli the batsman and captain were in fine form during the series

Virat Kohli - 9/10

Virat Kohli simply continued from where he left off in the ODI series. In the three matches, he finished with an average of 52 and made some shrewd decisions as captain to help India seal the T20I series. In the first T20I, he was the finisher, providing the final flourish, while in the second, he was almost fighting a lone hand against an impossible target. In the third T20I, while he failed with the bat, he made all the right moves as captain. Whether it was bowling Bumrah in the penultimate over or finishing Bhuvneshwar Kumar's quota early to make the run-rate impossible to achieve, all that Kohli touched turned into gold.

Shreyas Iyer - 4/10

It wasn't exactly a debut series to remember for Shreyas Iyer. He didn't get a chance to bat in the first T20I, found it difficult to contend with a big total while chasing in the second T20I and didn't have a great outing in the third T20I. The 22-year-old will be hoping to impress with a more consistent run in the side.

MS Dhoni - 7/10

A six off the first ball in the first T20I brought back reminders of the MS Dhoni of yore, who breathed fire and sent shivers down the spines of opposing bowlers. In the second T20I, he tried his best to get India over the line but the situation got out of control very quickly and despite his best efforts, he couldn't get India over the line.

While the loss was far from his fault, with every failed chase, pressure starts to mount on the 36-year-old. But he has the backing of his captain and is still the best gloveman in limited-overs cricket and he will hope to make a better impact against Sri Lanka.

Manish Pandey - 6/10

After sitting out for the first T20I, Manish Pandey came in for the final match, where he did his part and helped India get to a respectable total in their eight overs. While it was nothing flashy, he still got the job done and will be hoping to get a consistent run in the side going forward.

All-rounders

Pandya didn't have a great series with either bat or ball

Hardik Pandya - 5/10

After a meteoric rise since his international debut, Hardik Pandya was brought back down to earth during the T20I series against England. He bowled just a solitary over in each of the three T20Is and had an economy rate of 12. With the bat, his scores read 0, 1 and 14*. The all-rounder didn't have a great time out with the bat as he constantly found himself failing to pick the leg-spinner and that is something he will have to correct.

Despite his poor showing, he was entrusted with the responsibility of bowling the final over in the decider and managed to defend 19 runs to help India clinch the series, which speaks volumes about his temperament. His fielding was nothing short of spectacular and his run-outs and catches showed that he managed to find ways to contribute.

Axar Patel - 6/10

It was a mixed bag for Axar Patel in the T20I series. While his two wickets and economical spell helped India claim victory in the first T20I, he was expensive in the second T20I where he went wicketless and India went on to lose. He was dropped for the third T20I but that might just have been a tactical move to make the most of the eight-over contest. Despite his impressive numbers, Axar still needs to contribute more with the bat if he wants to get into the side as the all-rounder.

Spinners

Chahal made a crucial impact in the third T20I and helped India clinch the series

Yuzvendra Chahal - 9/10

The leg-spinner is quickly developing into a go-to bowler for Virat Kohli in limited-overs cricket. Chahal finished with three wickets in the T20I series but it is not just the wickets that are making him an important part of the side. In the third T20I, he went wicketless, but his two overs went for just eight runs and while India were defending a modest total, that proved to be the difference and helped India claim the series.

Kuldeep Yadav - 6/10

Although he played just one match, Kuldeep Yadav still managed to make an impact. In his only over, he got rid of the set Glenn Philips and it was during his over that Williamson was run out as well. While he conceded 10 runs, in the context of the game, the two wickets proved to be crucial as India got over the line.

Fast bowlers

Bhuvi and Bumrah are quickly developing into a deadly duo

Ashish Nehra - 5/10

Ashish Nehra got an honour many cricketers don't: the opportunity to play his last international game at his home ground. While he didn't get the perfect farewell as he finished wicketless in the first T20I at Delhi, he was his usual economical self, ending with figures of 4-0-29-0 and helping India beat New Zealand for the first time in T20Is.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar - 9/10

Along with Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is forming a deadly duo that is becoming a force to be reckoned with in white ball cricket. Two wickets in three matches don't paint the entire picture as far as Bhuvneshwar's performances are concerned. His knuckleball is proving to be incredibly difficult to pick - a fact New Zealand batsmen would attest to - and his ability to nail his yorkers at the death is making him the complete white ball bowler.

Jasprit Bumrah - 10/10

Bumrah is fast becoming an indispensable part of the Indian limited-overs set-up. Although he picked up just three wickets in the three T20Is, he walked away with the Man of the Series award courtesy his incredible impact, especially at the death. In both of India's victories, it was Bumrah who was the architect at the death and he rightly sits pretty at the top of the T20I rankings for bowlers.

Mohammed Siraj - 4/10

Although Mohammed Siraj picked up a wicket in his maiden T20I outing, it was far from the dream debut for the young pacer. He finished with the second-most expensive figures by an Indian bowler on T20I debut, in the second T20I at Rajkot, and was dropped in favour of Manish Pandey for the final T20I.