Best Playing XI amongst all the oversaes teams that toured India in the whole season

#3 Steven Smith

Steven Smith and Indian bowling, there is a different story altogether as the love affair between the two just does not seem to stop. The last time India toured down under, he had scored hundreds in each of the four Tests. When he travelled to India, it was being deemed as a tough tour for him but he proved once again why he is regarded as one of the best batsman of the modern era.

His hundred in the second innings in Pune was a true masterclass. He made 109 on a dusty track where every other batsman found it impossible to survive. He backed it up with 178 in Ranchi and finally with 111 in Dharamsala. In total, he accounted for 499 runs and finished as the leading run-scorer of the series at an average of 71.29.

#4 Joe Root

A lot was expected from the England’s young batting sensation and the series was being promoted as a Root vs Kohli battle. But did he live up to the expectations? Well, some would say per his standards, he played under par. But stats tell an altogether a different story.

He was England’s leading run-scorer with 491 runs in 10 innings at an average of 49.1. He went past the score of fifty 5 times. But where he lagged in comparison to Kohli, was he failed to play the match-defining innings on any of the occasions as was expected of him. But still, it was a commendable effort that needs to be applauded.

#5 Moeen Ali

He was first picked in the squad as an off-spinner but gradually became England’s dependable middle order batsman. He scored 381 runs in 9 innings at an average of 42.33. He scored 117 in the very first match at Rajkot and in the last match in Chennai, had 146 runs to his name.

He was England’s second highest run-getter behind Joe Root. Not just with bat, he picked up 10 wickets as well in 5 matches with 98/3 being his best figures. Although he wasn’t as effective with the ball yet his contributions as an all-rounder were valuable.