The recently concluded India-England Test Match at Vishakhapatnam produced some brilliant performances; however there were some disappointing performances from some players as well. Let’s check out the major hits and flops from Vishakhapatnam.
HITS (batsmen)
INDIA
Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli, single handedly turned the match in India’s favour by scoring a 248 runs in two innings, a century in the first innings and a half century in the second, which was also his 50th Test for India. Virat would love to continue in the same way throughout the series and help India win the series. Virat was also the Man-of-the-Match for his fantastic innings; both times India came to bat.
Cheteshwar Pujara
There is no stopping Pujara in Tests. Cheteshwar Pujara scored 3 hundreds in last 3 Tests and looks in good form to continue scoring hundreds and contributing in Team’s success. However, he got out just for 1 in the second innings. Pujara would like to bounce back hard the next times he comes at no. 3 for India.
ENGLAND
Jonny Bairstow
Johnny Bairstow not only scored a fighting half century in tough conditions in the first innings but was also involved in a partnership which took England’s first innings total to a respectable position. Even in the second innings when wickets fell regularly at the other end, Jonny Bairstow continued with utmost calmness and remained not out on 34 with a strike rate of 85. Skipper Alastair Cook would be mighty pleased with his performance.
Joe Root
Joe Root’s 25 of a 107 balls under pressure is an innings that might seem ordinary once you read from the scoreboard, but scoreboard doesn’t tell you the whole story. It won’t tell that on a day when it was important to stay at the wicket for England, Root spent more than 2 hours at the crease watching wickets fall at the other end. Root’s half-century in the first innings was a good innings in which he was not letting the spinners settle down and attacking them from the word go, until he was done by R Ashwin’s amazing game plan.
FLOPS
INDIA
KL Rahul
Replacing Gautam Gambhir in the 11, Rahul came in the team with runs under his belt from the domestic circuit. However he failed to make runs against the English seam bowlers and got out for a duck in the first innings and 3 runs in the second. Rahul needs to come back with a good performance at Mohali
Ajinkya Rahane
From Rahane’s standards this hasn’t been a great series so far where he hasn’t made some significant contributions with the bat himself. Although he was involved in couple of crucial partnerships but India would need more of him in the coming matches.
ENGLAND
BM Duckett
This wasn’t the Duckett we knew, in his two innings Duckett managed only 5 runs, getting out for a duck in the second innings. This might very well be his last chance as Jos Buttler might be given a chance in the next Test at Mohali.
Moeen Ali
The southpaw managed only 3 runs in 2 innings, 1 in the first and a couple in the 2, not spending enough time at the crease either as was required for the team. However, he would continue to feature in the 11 because he plays as an all rounder in the team scoring runs and breaking important partnerships with the ball.
HITS (Bowling)
ENGLAND
James Anderson, Stuart Broad
The duo took wickets for England with the new ball as well as the old ball. Anderson had a wonderful come back when he took 3 wickets in India’s first innings and 1 in the second, while Broad took 4 wickets in the second Innings and 1 wicket in the first innings. Out of the 20 wickets that England took 9 belonged to the duo that too on a wicket which had very little for the fast bowlers.
AU Rashid
The spin department was wonderfully spearheaded by Rashid who took 6 wickets in the match and taking wickets at key moments of the game. Rashid needs to bowl well throughout the series if England is dreaming of winning the series. Spinners become the backbone of the team at subcontinent.
India
INDIA
R Ashwin
It is often than you would find this man on the list. And once again R Ashwin does it for India a fifer in the first innings and a three-wicket haul in the second innings. Ashwin learnt from his mistakes at Rajkot and didn’t repeat them here at Vishakhapatnam. R Ashwin holds the key to both India’s and England’s successes.
Jayant Yadav
The man had a dream debut for India scoring runs at no. 9 and picking up wickets, in fact finishing the game off for India. Jayant Yadav can very well be an important member in the team and make a difference.
FLOPS ( Bowling)
ENGLAND
Ben Stokes
Didn’t had a good time with the ball in the match picked up just a wicket in the first innings and conceded above 4 runs an over in the second innings. However, Stokes is a strong character and would fight out in the next match.
Zafar Ansari
The spin bowling all rounder was not at his best in the match and went wicketless. Ansari adds a lot more balance in the squad when he is at his best. England would need more contribution from him in the rest of the series.
INDIA
Umesh Yadav
Although a bit harsh on him, Umesh Yadav was the only Indian bowler who could have performed better and been effective in the given surface. However, Umesh Yadav did put up a decent show and did not get much to bowl in the second innings.