The India-South Africa ODI series has come to an end with the visitors clinching the series, 3-2 and leaves behind some wonderful memories with quality performance by players of both the teams.
There was plenty of memorable action in the series with batsmen entertaining the crowd to the hilt while the bowlers also played their part by helping their teams emerge victorious, taking crucial wickets.
Here is a look at the highest run-scorers and wicket-takers from both India and South Africa.
India
Highest run-scorer
Rohit Sharma – The India opener, who started the ODI series on a bright note with 150 runs in the first ODI in Kanpur, was one of the star batsmen for India, though, his failure in the final ODI in Mumbai was a major disappointment. Rohit scored 255 runs for India. After the first ODI, the batsman could not capitalise on the start as he fell for 3, 21 and 16 runs in the second, fourth and fifth ODI respectively. He scored 65 runs in the third ODI. However, it was unfortunate that India lost both the matches in which he scored 150 and 65. Rohit attacked all the bowlers with ridiculous ease and looked in good control of the game, but gave his wicket away cheaply a couple of times.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar – Bhuvi, who might not have swung the ball as he would have liked to in the series, finished as the highest wicket taker for India with seven wickets. None of the bowlers from India had a good outing with the ball in the series. However, his three-wicket haul in Indore and Chennai helped India win the second and fourth ODIs respectively. Bhuvneshwar, who might have taken seven wickets in the ODI series, would want to erase the fifth ODI from his memory as he conceded an embarrassing 106 runs and had one of the worst economy rate in the series at 7.13.
South Africa
Highest run-scorer
Ab de Villiers – The South Africa skipper proved one and all why he is regarded as one of the best batsmen in world cricket, finishing with 358 runs in the series, including the crucial 119 runs in Mumbai, which paved the way for a series win. Overall, he scored three centuries in the series. With a strike rate of 134.58, he thrashed the Indian bowlers, irrespective of who the bowler was, whether a spinner or a seamer. De Villiers hit 20 fours and 20 sixes in the five-match ODI series.
Highest wicket-taker
Kagiso Rabada – The youngster from South Africa enjoyed bowling in India with 10 wickets in the series. Dale Steyn also finished with 10 wickets. But Rabada had a better average and better strike rate compared to the Proteas' bowling spearhead, Steyn. Rabada passed his big test against India in the first ODI in Kanpur as he was asked to bowl the last over of the match against Dhoni, who was troubled by the bowler. Rabada excelled bowling with the new ball as well as in the depth with a good mix of variety in his armoury.
