India triumphed over England 4-1 in the hard-fought series: Player ratings for the Hosts
After a disheartening start with a loss in the first match of the 5-Test series against England in Hyderabad, India orchestrated a remarkable turnaround, clinching victories in Vizag, Rajkot, Ranchi, and the recent triumph in Dharamsala.
The series will resonate for years to come as the hosts thwarted England’s ‘Bazball’ approach, fielding a squad predominantly composed of young and fresh faces, including 5 debutants who made their mark for India. Notably, India confronted the series without the services of Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami, and to some extent, KL Rahul, who featured only in the first Test.
Now that the month-long series has concluded with India emerging victorious, it’s fitting to evaluate the home side’s player performances.
Top Order
Yashasvi Jaiswal (9.5/10): The standout performer of the series, Yashasvi Jaiswal blazed through the matches, opening the innings with remarkable gusto in all five encounters. Jaiswal emerged as the top run-scorer of the series, amassing a staggering 712 runs in just 9 innings, boasting an impressive average of 89 and a striking strike rate nearing 80.
Jaiswal scored the most runs in a Test series for India against England
Jaiswal crafted three fifties and two towering centuries, clinching his inaugural Player of the Series accolade. Additionally, Jaiswal became only the second Indian to surpass the 700-run mark in a bilateral Test series.
Rohit Sharma (9/10): Leading from the front, Captain Rohit Sharma marshalled his troops masterfully throughout the series. Beyond his captaincy, Rohit concluded the series as the fourth-highest run-scorer, accumulating 400 runs across 9 innings, boasting an average of 44.44.
Sharma’s batting prowess dazzled, notably in the first innings of the Rajkot Test, rescuing India from a precarious 33-3 to a formidable 237 runs before his departure, courtesy of a resplendent 131-run knock, marking his first century of the series.
Shubman Gill (8.5/10): Facing the threat of being dropped from the Indian Team, Shubman Gill silenced critics with a compelling innings in the second innings of the second test at Vizag, scoring an impressive 104 runs and securing his spot for the remainder of the series. Gill, in the series, amassed a total of 452 runs in 9 innings with an impressive average of 56.50.
Middle Order
KL Rahul (6.5/10): KL Rahul featured solely in the Hyderabad Test due to an injury. In the first Test, he scored 86 runs and 22 runs in the first and second innings, respectively.
Shreyas Iyer (3.5/10): Struggling with form, Shreyas Iyer faced a mid-series exclusion after failing to capitalise on his opportunities in the first two Tests, managing only 104 runs across both matches at an average of 26.
Rajat Patidar (1/10): Amidst a series where debutants shone, Rajat Patidar struggled to make an impression, failing to seize his chance after replacing Rahul. Patidar’s debut series saw him muster only 62 runs in 6 innings at a meagre average of 10.5.
Sarfaraz Khan (8/10): Sarfaraz Khan scripted a dream debut in Rajkot, replacing the out-of-form Iyer. His fearless stroke play yielded 62 runs off 66 balls in his inaugural international innings. Throughout the series, Sarfaraz amassed 200 runs at an average of 50 and a strike rate of 79.37.
Devdutt Padikkal (8/10): Another debutant, Devdutt Padikkal, took the place of the injured Patidar in Dharamsala. Playing just one innings, he scored a notable 65 runs off 103 balls, becoming the first player in 36 years to feature for India at the No. 4 spot on Test match debut.
Srikar Bharat (1.5/10): Srikar Bharat struggled continuously since his Test debut in 2023. In this series Bharat featured in the first two Tests, managing only 92 runs in four innings before being dropped.
Dhruv Jurel (8/10): Dhruv Jurel replaced Bharat in the third Test. However, his standout performance came in the fourth Test, where his heroic batting in both innings helped India secure an unexpected victory. Jurel, who played four innings, amassed 190 runs with an average of 63.33 and also bagged the Player of the Match award in the 4th Test.
All-rounders
Ravindra Jadeja (8.5/10): Playing a pivotal role in the Rajkot Test alongside Rohit, Ravindra Jadeja displayed his all-around brilliance, smashing his 4th Test century and claiming a fifer in the second innings.
Across 6 innings, he amassed an impressive 232 runs at an average of 38.67, while his 19 wickets in 4 matches came with an average of 25.05.
Ravichandran Ashwin (8.5/10): Ravichandran Ashwin achieved his 500 Test wickets during the Third Test in Rajkot. Despite a below-par start to the series, Ashwin emerged as the highest wicket-taker with 26 dismissals in 5 matches at an average of 24.81.
Ashwin became the first player to take a 5-fer in the 1st and 100th Test
Notably, he played his 100th Test in Dharamsala, becoming the 14th Indian to reach this milestone. With the bat, he contributed 116 runs at an average of 16.57.
Axar Patel (5/10): Axar Patel made contributions in the first two Test matches, accumulating 133 runs with an average of 33.25. With the ball, he managed to clinch 5 wickets across both matches.
Bowlers
Kuldeep Yadav (9/10): Dominating with a staggering 19 wickets across just 4 matches at an impressive average of 20.16, Kuldeep Yadav has indisputably established himself as a pivotal wicket-taking asset for the Indian Team. Notably, in the last Test, Kuldeep’s five-wicket haul earned him the well-deserved Player of the Match award.
Jasprit Bumrah (9/10): Jasprit Bumrah, continues to ascend to greater heights with each passing series. Throughout the series, Bumrah tormented England’s batting lineup with his lethal yorkers.
His exceptional stats in the series, boasting 19 wickets at an astonishing average, strike rate, and economy rate of 16.89, 32.79, and 3.09 respectively, speak volumes about his mastery and dominance on the field.
Mohammed Siraj (3/10): Mohammed Siraj, despite high expectations, fell short in the series, managing only 6 wickets across 4 matches at an average of 46.
Mukesh Kumar (1/10): Mukesh Kumar, tasked with filling Siraj’s shoes in the second Test, had a forgettable outing, securing just a single wicket of a tailender while conceding 70 runs in the process.
Akash Deep (6/10): Among the five debutants, Akash Deep stood out as the lone bowler making his debut in Ranchi, stepping in to fill the void left by Bumrah. Despite limited opportunities, Akash showcased his potential by claiming 3 crucial wickets of England’s top order in his sole appearance of the series.