Highs and lows of Indian cricket in 2019

Unbeaten run in Tests

Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah

Apart from the draw at Sydney, India won each and every Test they played in 2019. They easily got the better of West Indies 2-0 in the latter’s backyard. At home, they mercilessly thrashed South Africa 3-0, before thumping Bangladesh 2-0.

The year saw the emergence of a new opening pair in Indian cricket. Mayank Agarwal was India’s leading run-getter in Tests with 754 runs in eight matches. His new opening partner Rohit Sharma smashed 556 runs in five Tests.

Skipper Virat Kohli and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane also scored over 600 runs in the year.

India’s pace bowling, arguably the best in the business, was one of the key factors behind India’s unbeaten run. Mohammed Shami led the way with 33 wickets in eight Tests, Ishant Sharma claimed 25 in 6, and Umesh Yadav 23 in four.

The spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin also chipped in with 21 and 20 wickets respectively to make it a complete performance by the Indian bowlers.

Rohit Sharma’s five World Cup hundreds

India v Pakistan - ICC Cricket World Cup 2019

Indian opener Rohit Sharma had a sensational run at the World Cup with five hundreds, including three in a row. He amassed 648 runs in nine games at an average of 81.

Rohit’s scores in the World Cup read 122 not out, 57, 140, 1, 18, 102, 104, 103 and 1. He would have loved to make another big one in the semis, but the law of averages struck at the wrong time.

Rohit was clearly in a different zone in the tournament, and his record of five World Cup tons will be difficult to beat.

Emergence of Deepak Chahar

Deepak Chahar

While India had a disappointing time in T20Is overall, pacer Deepak Chahar’s emergence was the biggest plus. He picked up 16 wickets in 9 matches at an average of 13, a strike rate of 11.9 and an economy rate of 6.53.

Chahar came up with a sensational effort of 6 for 7 against Bangladesh at Nagpur in the deciding match of the series, the best bowling figures in T20Is. Earlier in the year, Chahar bowled brilliantly for 3 for 4 in a T20I against West Indies at Providence.

He is one to watch out for in the future.