CricViz analyst Patrick Noone picks his team of the series

KL Rahul

The opener made his initial mark in the series with his third ODI hundred at Vizag, before backing that up with a 77 in Cuttack as India clinched the series. Rahul was happy to be in the slipstream of Rohit Sharma, attacking just 21% in the Powerplay compared to his partner’s 33%, yet made it count when he did attack, registering a boundary percentage of 14% during that phase of the innings.

Rohit Sharma

Rahul’s opening partner cemented his place even further as one of the greatest ODI batsmen of the current era. His 159 at Vizag was the highest score of the series and set up India for a monster 387 that proved well beyond West Indies. It was Rohit’s eighth 150+ score in the format and he looked at one stage as though he could go even further and notch his fourth double hundred. That was ultimately not to be, but it was nonetheless an imperious performance across the series from the opener.

Shimron Hetmyer

Hetmyer’s talent has never been in doubt, but an up and down 2019 led to concerns that he was not delivering on his considerable ability. His match-winning 139 in the first ODI at Chennai – his first international hundred since February – will have gone a long way to alleviating those criticisms. Hetmyer struck nine sixes across the series, the joint-most of any player, with seven of them coming in that epic at the Chepauk as the left-hander truly arrived as an elite level batsman.

Shreyas Iyer

India’s number four showed his versatility with two half-centuries that differed greatly in nature. After two quick wickets in Chennai, Iyer found himself at the crease at the end of the seventh over and accumulated an 88-ball 70 having been tasked with rebuilding the innings. Then in the next match in Vizag, Iyer was given the platform to tee off thanks to centuries from Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, and crashed 53 off just 32 balls. The number four spot has been a problem position for India in recent years, but if Iyer can continue this kind of form, he could well make the place his own.

Nicholas Pooran

The 24-year-old Trinidadian added to his ever-burgeoning reputation as a power-hitting middle order batsman. Pooran attacked an eye-watering 71% of the balls he faced, the highest percentage of any batsman in the series, and scored two rapid 50s in the last two matches. His 89 in Cuttack deserved a hundred and his fearlessness to take on both spinners and seamers alike hinted at a bright future for the left-hander.

Rishabh Pant

Pant’s position in India’s ODI team has never quite been secure as the shadow of MS Dhoni looms large over his potential successor. With a 71 in Chennai followed by a 16-ball cameo for 39 in Vizag, Pant hinted at what life after Dhoni could be like. With runs on the board, there are few players in world cricket better capable of capitalising during the death overs, as Pant showed with a ludicrous strike rate of 243.75 during the last ten overs throughout this series.

Keemo Paul

Paul finished the series as the leading wicket-taker, with six scalps in three games including Rishabh Pant (twice) and Virat Kohli. Only Rohit Sharma scored at better than a run-a-ball against the right-arm seamer and four of his six wickets came during the death overs. With the bat, Paul hinted at his genuine all-rounder capabilities by striking 46 off 42 balls in his only innings of the series in Vizag.

Mohammed Shami

Shami recorded the best figures of the series as his match-winning 3-39 in Vizag stopped West Indies in their tracks. Chasing 388, the visitors appeared on course for a mammoth chase until Shami dismissed the set batsmen Nicholas Pooran and Keemo Paul as well as picking up the dangerous Kieron Pollard for a golden duck. Shami has grown into one of the most dangerous white ball bowlers in the world in the last two years and he ended his 2019 on a high.

Kuldeep Yadav

No bowler drew a higher false shot percentage (19%) than Kuldeep in a series that included the second ODI hat-trick of his career. Though those were the only three wickets he took in the series, Kuldeep was a threat throughout and recorded an economy rate of 5.46, by far the best of any bowler who played in all three matches.

Alzarri Joseph

The right-arm quick was a middle overs stalwart for West Indies, bowling all but three of his 26 overs during overs 11-40. Joseph recorded an economy rate of just 5.73 during that phase and picked up the key wickets of KL Rahul (twice), Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer. After injury ruled him out of much of 2019, Joseph looked back to his best throughout the series and 2020 could well see him become a big part of West Indies’ plans across all formats.

Sheldon Cotterell

Cotterell has made the first ten overs his own in recent years and this series was no exception. Finding whatever lateral movement was on offer with the new ball, Cotterell recorded an economy rate of 4.23 during the first Powerplay and dismissed each of India’s top four. He also managed to restrict Rohit Sharma to less than a run-a-ball; no mean feat given the kind of form the Indian opener showed.