India v England, 2nd Test - India Player Ratings

India sealed a comprehensive 246-run victory over England in the Vizag Test to 1-0 up in the five-match series. Needing eight wickets to win on day 5, India bundled out England for just 158 just three overs after the lunch break. Indian spinners shined on the fifth day when England batsmen Ben Duckett and Joe Root came out to bat. The trio of Jayant Yadav (3/30), Ravichandran Ashwin (3/52) and Ravindra Jadeja (2/35) were up to the task and ensured India’s win just after the lunch break.

While the Test saw many spectacular performances which laid the platform for the win, India still had a few negatives to work on. Here in this article, we try to rate the players according to their individual performances. Have a look at the India player ratings.

1.Murali Vijay – 3/10:

Murali Vijay had a disappointing time at Vizag after having a wonderful time in the opening Test at Rajkot. The opener could muster scores of only 20 and 3 in both the innings. In the first innings, he was stunned by a bouncer from James Anderson while in the second innings, Broad foxed him with his cutter.

He was clearly undone by the brilliance of the bowlers on both the occasions and the blame cannot be put on him for playing rash shots. But, after experiencing these things in the recently concluded game, Vijay must surely learn more about the English fast bowling and must be more aware of their tricks. Fortunately, his failure did not hurt Indian much as other took guard.

2. Lokesh Rahul – 2.5/10:

His return was a much anticipated one but unfortunately, he failed to create any ripples. He failed twice to make any significant contribution to the team at the top. The right-hander was dismissed for a paltry score of 10 after registering a duck in the first innings.

The injury which he picked up 1st Test at Kanpur against New Zealand got him ruled out of the entire three-match series and also kept him unavailable for the initial selection of the squad for the ongoing England series. He finally came back looking in fine form scoring a fifty and a hundred against Rajasthan playing for his state side Karnataka. But, unfortunately, his comeback has been a silent affair.

3. Cheteshwar Pujara – 8/10:

Cheteshwar Pujara carried his great form from Rajkot to the coastal city of Vizag and slammed a fabulous century in the first innings. The right-hander made 119 runs and forged 226 runs stand with Virat Kohli. His contribution was the backbone of India’s mammoth first innings total of 455.

Apart from displaying his natural habit of playing a long inning, Pujara for change mixed a bit of aggression in his batting which made his knock even more attractive. In the second innings, he couldn’t replicate the same performances and as dismissed just 1.

4. Virat Kohli (C) – 9.5/10:

Virat Kohli maintained his flawless record as the skipper with this win at Vizag. Kohli began the game with a bang by slamming 167 runs in the first innings, giving a perfect example of leading from the front. His superb knock guided India to 455 in the first inning. This first inning total placed India in the winning position.

Kohli was at his best in the second innings as well, hitting 81. He batted in full flow but failed to get another ton and was quite unfortunately to lose his wicket. But, once again his knock played a huge role as it helped the overall lead well to a mammoth level.

5. Ajinkya Rahane – 3.5/10:

Ajinkya Rahane got starts in both the innings but failed to convert them. The right-hander came out to bat in a pretty comfortable situation after Kohli and Pujara put Indian in a dominating position. However, he started off well but could only reach 23 before losing his wicket. Rahane came in a similar situation but ended up with a similar sort of knock, managing just 26.

6. Ravichandran Ashwin – 8.5/10:

Ravichandran Ashwin was easily the best player of the match after Virat Kohli. He continued to contribute with his all-round skills. The opening Test wasn’t that great for him according to his high standards. But, the off-spinning all-rounder was quickly into his old rhythm and snapped 5/67 and 352 apart from hitting a crucial 58 in the first innings.

Things got slightly comfortable for India in the second innings but the first innings was quite challenging. The highly motivated English bowlers looked very relentless with their approach and tried everything they could o crawl back into the game. their efforts saw Indian standing on a brink of collapse after Kohli and Pujara went back to the pavilion. But, Ashwin stood firm and hit a superb fifty to not only help Indians post a 400 plus total but also solidify their batting credentials.

7. Wriddhiman Saha (wk) – 5/10:

Wriddhiman Saha could not do anything significant with the bat. In fact, his sudden departure made the Indians nervous. He was under no pressure in both the innings but was still unable to make any impact in the opposition. With the gloves, he did not err much and took two catches as well.

8. Ravindra Jadeja – 5/10:

The left arm spinner, with figures of 1/57 and 2/35, had a satisfying test as far as bowling as concerned. He didn’t have much to do actually with the off-spinning twins doing all the damage.

With the bat, Jaddu would like to forget this game having scored 2 ball duck and 14 in both the innings. With his partner Ashwin creating headlines with his all-round performances, Jadeja must understand that a player like him, who was once a better all-rounder than his counterpart, must perform hi roles in a more productive manner.

9. Jayant Yadav – 7.5/10:

Debutant Jayant Yadav was showered with high praises from skipper Virat Kohli as well as his senior mate Ravichandran Ashwin. In the first innings, the off-spinner snapped 1/38, bowling under the shadows of Ashwin who took a five-for.

He played a bigger role in the second inning taking 3/30, mopping the English tail-enders to finish the game quickly. His bowling performances were up to the mark. But, honestly speaking, it was his 35 runs knock with Ashwin in the fist innings that helped hi gain attention ad proves his worth as an all-rounder.

10. Umesh Yadav – 6/10:

Umesh Yadav bowled quite appreciably and earned his captain’s respect. he bowled 18 overs in the first innings and returned with numbers of 1/56. Plainly speaking, this tally would look ordinary. But, his only wicket in the first inning was that of Jonny Bairstow.

Yadav cleaned up Bairstow with a full swinging delivery to not only claim his first wicket but also give India much-needed breakthrough by breaking the frustrating 110 runs stand which Bairstow shared with Stokes. He wasn’t required to bowl much in the second inning and bowled only 8 overs, finishing with figures of 0/8.

11. Mohammed Shami – 7.5/10:

Mohammad Shami has perfected the art of bowling on Indian wickets. The right arm fast bowler made a valuable contribution in the win with the ball. He made that the English openers never got going. His first innings tally read 1/28 but important fact was that his only wicket was of Alastair Cook. In the second innings, he claimed 2 for 30 with Joe Root and Adil Rashid being his victims. Whether with the new ball or with the old, Shami made sure his pace and the energy levels never dropped.