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ToggleThe ongoing England vs India series was deemed to change the face of Indian cricket in overseas conditions. However, it is fast bringing back the horrific memories of the previous series outside India.
The expectations were sky high from this side. Virat Kohli & Co. had gone to England after winning 9 out of their last ten series. But two Tests later, fans around the country are fearing another dreadful result. The team is already two down in the five-match series and need to play out of their skin to avoid a third successive series loss in England.
Batsmen’s failure is once again the biggest reason behind the team’s horrific performance so far. In four innings, India has managed to cross the 200-run mark just once while they have been bundled out inside 130 twice. Not surprisingly, they are standing on the verge of another series defeat.
So before the third Test gets underway, we take a look at how the players fared in the first two Tests.
Murali Vijay — 1.5/10
Vijay looked good in the first hour of the Indian innings in 1st test and many thought he might repeat his form of last time in England. But since then, Vijay struggled badly to cope with the moving ball. Leg before both times, Vijay was given a nod ahead of Dhawan but he answered with a pair. Dismal performance and might lose his place soon if he does not come up with a good knock.
Scores: 20, 6, 0, 0
Shikhar Dhawan — 2/10
Struggle not only with the bat but while also fielding. With 26 runs in the first innings of the first Test, he was India’s second highest scorer but had struggled throughout his stay on the crease.
Got out poking the ball twice. His way of dismissals was least expected from a player who has been opening the batting for the world number one Test for quite some time now. His poor fielding piled more miseries on him as he spilled some costly catches.
Scores: 26, 13
KL Rahul — 1/10
Rahul is fast making his fans and the team-management frustrated by squandering the chances. He has not done anything in England since the century in the first T20I. In fact, his performance in the first two Tests could have well seen him getting dropped for sure but he might get another chance due to the poor performances of other openers. He is yet to cross the 10-run mark after four innings. Looked all lost against the moving deliveries.
Scores: 8, 10, 4, 13
Virat Kohli — 8/10
The only Indian batsman who has shown fight in the testing conditions. His performance in the first Test, where he scored 149 and 51, not only helped him made amends for the poor performance on the last tour but also took India agonisingly close to win. However, he failed to deliver in the same manner in the second Test. But he has been the sole bright spot for India as far as the batting department is concerned.
He has faced 32% of all balls faced by India in the series so far, while M Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane put together have faced only 34%. Eight of India’s top 10 partnerships involve Kohli.
Scores: 149, 51, 23, 17
Cheteshwar Pujara — 3/10
Dropped in the first test, unfortunate to be run-out in the first innings of the second test, bowled by a beauty in the second innings. Pujara looked gritty in the second innings, tried to play as many balls to save the test. Pujara looked better than the rest at Lords. A better contender to bat at no. 3, Pujara will be playing the rest of the series. He can score big once he settles down.
Scores: 1, 17
Ajinkya Rahane — 2/10
Rahane has been one of the biggest disappointments for India in this series so far. Four years ago, it was hit century that had set up a famous victory at Lord’s. However, he is looking like a pale shadow of his usual self in the ongoing series. Rahane showed frail technique against the moving ball in the first two Tests.
His highest score so far in this series is 18. In four innings he has edged three times to the slips and once to the wicketkeeper. His struggles in testing conditions is quite disheartening, given he was India’s most consistent batsman on their previous cycle of overseas tours from December 2013 to January 2015. India’s Test vice-captain needs to find his mojo back as soon as possible.
Scores: 18, 13, 15, 2
Hardik Pandya — 4/10
Played as an all rounder. Scored few runs with skipper Kohli in both the innings in first test. But not enough to impress. Bowling was below par. Should have picked some wickets in friendly conditions. Instead he leaked runs. Pandya got the responsibility to take India across the line in the first Test but he edged while being over defensive with the tail.
Looked good with the straight drives in second Test but loss was inevitable by then. Should take a leaf out of English allrounders’ book and prove his worth soon
Scores: 12, 31, 11, 26 and 0/46, DNB, 3/66
Dinesh Karthik — 1/10
Horrible till now. Came in as a replacement of Saha, Karthik is yet to show his value both with the ball and the gloves. Spilled a regulation catch in the first test, took a bliner in the second. Batting had been dissapointing in both tests. Got out by some beautiful inswingers. Bit unfortunate at Lords, Karthik desperately needs a bit of Luck as well some runs.
Scores: 0, 20, 1, 0
Ravichandran Ashwin — 6/10:
Easily India’s second best player on this tour. Bowled beautifully in the first test. Got Cook bowled twice in identically way. Batted well lower down the order, scored few runs, showed resilience. Ashwin can be handy in coming tests if there is something for the spinners. Overall well bowled in the first test, well batted in the second test.
Scores: 10, 13, 29, 33 and 4/62, 3/59, 0/68
Ishant Sharma — 5/10:
Experienced, supposed to lead the attack in absence of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah but he was good in patches. Bowled a good early spell, then went listless in the middle overs. Came back strongly in the second innings, took a fifer and gave India a smell of Victory. At Lord’s he supported Shami well but then had no effect as the ball became old. Ishant needs to stop leaking runs if not taking wickets.
Scores: 1/46, 5/51, 1/101
Mohammed Shami — 4/10:
India’s best seamer in the first two games. Bowled well on the line, got wickets. Should have his name on the Lord’s honour board but was unfortunate not to find edges regularly. Could have bowled a bit harder with the old ball. Shami could retain his place even if India’s spearhead Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah return to the team.
Scores: 3/64, 0/38, 3/96
Umesh Yadav — 2/10:
Unlucky to sit out in second test, Umesh bowled well with pace at Edgbaston. Opened the spell, caused some problems to Cook but didn’t find any wickets. Came back later to remove a well settled Bairstow. Yadav was brought in late at Lords but responded well to clean up the tail which caused damage by then.
Scores: 1/56, 2/20
Kuldeep Yadav — 0
Kuldeep was brought into the side to replace a seamer on seam friendly Lord’s wicket. He got no help from the pitch and proved how fatal the decision was to play two spinners. Not only he failed to take wickets but bowled pretty full and went almost 5 runs per over. His Lord’s debut was more forgetful when he got out on a pair.