After losing the first Test match by 227 runs, India turned things around to beat England 3-1 and clinch the Anthony de Mello Trophy. The margins of win – 317 runs, 10 wickets, an innings and 25 runs – elaborate how comprehensive India’s wins have been. Here is how the Indian cricketers have fared in the series. India seal series and World Test Championship final berth
R Ashwin: 9.5 (189 runs at 31.50, 32 wickets at 14.71, 2 catches)
Four Test matches, 32 wickets, three five-wicket hauls. They may tell you it was on tracks where batting was difficult, but then, he has got a Test hundred too. His bowled beautifully throughout the series, leaving a mark in all four Test matches – including the first Test that India lost.
Rishabh Pant: 9 (270 runs at 54, 8 catches, 5 stumpings)
Not only did Pant get the runs, but he got them at breakneck pace, altering the course of an innings in a short span of time. While he struck at 84, nobody else from either side managed 50 runs at a strike rate of 60. Some of his strokes were plain audacious. As for his glovework, there is still room for improvement, but it cannot be denied that he has come a long way.
Axar Patel: 9 (55 runs at 13.75, 27 wickets at 10.59, 1 catch)
Three Tests, two of them in his home ground, 27 wickets, 4 five-fors, 1 ten-wicket hauls, an average better than Ashwin’s. You cannot dream of a better debut. Axar bowled intelligently, relying more on accuracy and letting the pitch do the rest. Found some runs towards the end, too.
Washington Sundar: 8 (181 runs at 90.50, 2 wickets at 65)
Sundar batted four times. In two of these he was left stranded by his teammates, on 85 and 96. The other two were ducks. While he has impressed, India will need to figure out his exact role. He is perhaps best suited to a spot in the top five or six, as a batsman who can bowl. He has certainly outdone most of his colleagues in the top five.
Rohit Sharma: 8 (345 runs at 57.50, 5 catches)
Years later, this series may be remembered as the one that altered Rohit’s career. He scored more than twice as many as any other batsman in the top five, pacing each of his innings well, dominating both pace and spin. An excellent performance.
Mohammed Siraj: 6.5 (20 runs at 10, 3 wickets at 22.67, 1 catch)
Siraj did not have much to do, but when called upon to bowl, he did impress with his extra pace. Gets half a point for his 16 not out at Chennai.
Ishant Sharma: 6 (26 runs at 6.50, 6 wickets at 26.67, 1 catch)
It is difficult to judge a specialist fast bowler who got only 59 overs in 4 Test matches. Ishant bowled in short, hostile bursts, picking up the odd wicket. Hit his first six as well, in his 100th Test match.
Jasprit Bumrah: 5 (5 runs at 1.67, 4 wickets at 32.25, 1 catch)
Bumrah played just two Test matches, and was needed to bowl more than 6 overs in one of them. He did bowl well in the other for his four wickets.
Virat Kohli: 4 (172 runs at 28.67, 4 catches)
Two fifties, two ducks, and an average below 30: it was an ordinary series for Kohli. He led aggressively, did not hesitate to introduce spin right from the start, but more was expected of him.
Ajinkya Rahane: 3.5 (112 runs at 18.67, 8 catches)
Time is probably running out for Rahane. He got a fifty, but impressed and scored the least among India’s senior batsmen. Gets half a point for some excellent work in the slips.
Cheteshwar Pujara: 3 (133 runs at 22.17, 3 catches)
An ordinary series for Pujara despite a fifty. He struggled to force the pace, and has often got out just when it seemed he would settle down to play those marathon innings.
Shubman Gill: 3 (119 runs at 19.83, 2 catches)
Gill began the series in style, but was often found wanting, especially during the brief burst against Jofra Archer. It was an ordinary series, but given his immense talent, there is little doubt that he will bounce back.
Kuldeep Yadav: 3 (3 runs at 1.50, 2 wickets at 20.50)
Kuldeep, the only wrist-spinner to bowl in the series, did not exactly fail. He was not needed at all. Even on a pitch that assisted turn, he bowled only 12.2 overs in the entire match.
Shahbaz Nadeem: 1 (0 run, 4 wickets at 58.25)
Nadeem toiled hard in his only Test for his four wickets, but they came for a price. He went for almost four runs an over, and had little answer to Joe Root.