SL Series : Indian Team Report Card

[Kalia_Test]

http://www.rediff.com/cricket/report/indias-report-card-10-for-ashwin-9-for-ishant/20150902.htm Too biased in favor of Rahane and against Rohit by the author IMO.

The 2-1 margin of victory is probably not a fair indication of what transpired in the three Test series, but there can be no gainsaying that Sri Lanka was second best save a couple of sessions in the rubber. India will rue not completing a 3-0 series whitewash. They have themselves to blame for capitulating to a shambolic 112 all out, after being set 176 for victory in the first Test in Galle. But Virat Kohli's young team showed heart not only by bouncing back in the next Test, but going on to register their first series win in the island nation in 22 years following a crushing victory in the third Test. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ishant Sharma were the top performers with the ball in a series where bowlers outshone batsmen as none of the teams posted a total in excess of 400. My report card on how the Indian players fared: Virat Kohli (8/10) He may not have set the grounds on fire with his batting, but his captaincy was certainly a highlight of the series. Kohli never gave up on his trademark aggression. He persisted with his five bowler theory, which ultimately proved one of the reasons for India winning the third Test in Colombo. His faith in Stuart Binny's abilities paid off when the Karnataka all-rounder chipped in with two vital wickets in the first innings, batted well in the second and also bowled a good spell the second time around, which allowed the skipper the option of rotating his bowlers around. India will want to see more runs from Kohli who ended the series with 233 runs, at an average of 38. Ajinkya Rahane (7/10) He has the ability to come up with the goods when it matters. Rahane played just one good innings in the series, but that fantastic knock of 126 was integral to India's comeback in the second Test. Rahane achieved a new world record of eight catches in the first Test and came up with several unbelievable catches in the slips in the second Test. He suffered twin failures in the third Test, but that was due to him being promoted to No 3, the team management preferring to protect the out-of-form Rohit Sharma, who got the opportunity to bat lower down the order. K L Rahul (5/10) Clearly, a series that the opener would like to forget in a hurry. The highest opening stand in the series from both sides was 15 runs in the first Test by Sri Lanka; India's best was 14 in the same game. Rahul was not the first choice opener at the start of the tour, but injuries to Murali Vijay before the first Test, and later to Shikhar Dhawan, meant that the Karnataka youngster featured in all three Tests. He scored a splendid century (108) in the second Test on Day 1 when conditions were the toughest, but had nothing to show for the rest of the series. His technique came into question in the third Test when he was dismissed in the same fashion in both innings -- offering no stroke to incoming deliveries and being bowled. Rahul, whose close-in catching was impressive :haha:, could have it in him to be a long-term prospect. Rohit Sharma (5/10) :mad: Arguably, the luckiest player in Indian cricket. Despite countless disappointments, all his captains back him and give him ample opportunities to regain form. In this series he was preferred to Cheteshwar Pujara at No 3, but failed in both innings in the first Test. When the team management realised his technique was not cut out for No 3, he was swiftly dropped to No 5, where batting is a lot easier against the older ball. ( My quote - So Rohit being pushed to No.3 in first Test is not considered when you talk of Rahane. You say batting at No.5 is easy and hence want Rahane there as his technique is weak? - moron ) He played a good knock of 79 in the second Test, but his 50 in the second innings of the third Test was vital. He finished the series with 202 runs, at an average of 33. Cheteshwar Pujara (8/10) One wonders why Pujara does not get the kind of support Rohit Sharma does from the team management. The Saurashtra batsman sat out the first two Tests and only came into the playing eleven for the third as a stand-in opener after the inured Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan returned home. India crossed the 300 run mark because of his gutsy unbeaten 145. Dping so, Pujara joined Sunil Gavaskar, Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid as Indian batsmen who carried their bat through in Tests. Hopefully, he will find a slot in the playing eleven when the South Africans come visiting next month. I feel he is more suited at No 3 while Rahane can get back to No 5. Shikhar Dhawan (8/10) Dhawan got off to a flying start, scoring a cracking 134 before injury cut short his tour. He returned home after fracturing his right hand while fielding in the slips in the Test. Despite his injury he courageously came out to bat in the second innings and scored 28. His dismissal saw India collapse and be bundled out for 112 and lose the Test. Murali Vijay (8/10) Vijay has emerged as a most consistent opener in world cricket following a good run of scores away from home. One of India's top performers during the Australian tour, he hit an impressive 150 against Bangladesh in the one-off Test in June. He missed the first Test in Sri Lanka because of a hamstring injury and returned to the crease for the second game. He failed in the first innings, dismissed for a duck, but made it count in the next, stroking a fluent 82 despite being hampered by injury. Wriddhiman Saha (7/10) It is not easy replacing Mahendra Singh Dhoni, but Saha is carving his own niche. Before injury nixed him for the third Test, he showed maturity scoring back-to-back fifties in the first two games. His glove work was good too. Naman Ojha (4/10) Naman Ojha made an unlikely Test debut at 32. While he was superb behind the stumps, his T20 batting temperament may be a handicap in the longer form of the game. He scored 21 in the first innings and 35 in the second and was dismissed both times playing ugly hoicks across the line to spinners. Stuart Binny (5/10) Drafted into the team as an all-rounder for the second and third Tests, he fared better with the ball though his 49 in the second innings in the final Test helped India build a fighting total. His twin strikes in the first innings of the third Test proved crucial; in the second Test he claimed his first Test wicket -- Sri Lankan Skipper Angelo Mathews who was batting well on 102. Mathews's dismissal led to a Sri Lankan collapse and they lose their last five wickets for 22 runs, giving India a crucial first innings lead of 87 runs. Ravichandran Ashwin (10/10) The wily spinner was India's best player in the series. He finished the series with 21 wickets, at an average of 18, including two five wicket hauls. India lost the first Test in Galle despite Ashwin taking ten wickets. He did not lose heart and produced another match-winning spell in the next match, taking five wickets in the second innings at the P Sara Oval in Colombo. In the third Test, he went wicketless in the first innings but made up for it in the second, claiming four wickets to finish off the Sri Lankan lower order. He also scored a crucial half-century (58) in the second innings of the third Test, enabling India set Sri Lanka a difficult target. Amit Mishra (8/10) Making a comeback to Test cricket after four years, Mishra showed what the Indian team had missed all these years. When India played three spinners in the first Test, the leggie stood out. He performed better in the second Test, taking seven wickets, and starred with the bat in the third, scoring 58 and 39. Ignored under Mahendra Singh Dhoni's captaincy, Mishra has Kohli's trust. He repaid his captain's belief in his skills, finishing joint second highest wicket-taker with 15 wickets. Ishant Sharma (9/10) While the Sri Lankan pitches were seamer-friendly, Ishant's extra pace made him the standout bowler of the series. Known to be a hit-the-deck bowler, Ishant got his tactics right as he pitched the ball up more often than not and was rewarded with much success. The third Test may be remembered for his altercations with the Sri Lankan players, but few can overlook his remarkable fast bowling -- perhaps one of the best by an Indian pacer in recent times -- which saw him end the series with 13 wickets and a good strike rate of 23.23. Umesh Yadav (6/10) Called upon to replace Varun Aaron after the first Test, he lived up to expectations. He finished with five wickets in the two games he played, bowled with good pace and gave the batsmen problems to think about, especially with the new ball. Umesh, who has been criticised in recent months for lack of control, got his bearings right without compromising on pace. Harbhajan Singh (4/10) While he bowled eight overs in the first innings of the Galle Test, he sent down double that amount in the second and was unlucky not to pick more than the solitary wicket he ended up with. Varun Aaron (4/10) Aaron's extra pace makes him a captain's choice. Though he took just two wickets in the Galle Test before being dropped like Bhajji, he did bowl some good spells. Clearly, one for the future.

---------------------------------------------- I have put all the players and the author's ratings for each player below. You can change the rating where you disagree and quote the below so that we know what the forum thinks about performances in this series only Virat Kohli (8/10) Ajinkya Rahane (7/10) K L Rahul (5/10) Rohit Sharma (5/10) Cheteshwar Pujara (8/10) Shikhar Dhawan (8/10) Murali Vijay (8/10) Wriddhiman Saha (7/10) Naman Ojha (4/10) Stuart Binny (5/10) Ravichandran Ashwin (10/10) Amit Mishra (8/10) Ishant Sharma (9/10) Umesh Yadav (6/10) Harbhajan Singh (4/10) Varun Aaron (4/10)

[Kalia_Test]

My ratings :- Virat Kohli (8/10) Ajinkya Rahane (6/10) K L Rahul (5/10) Rohit Sharma (7/10) :biggrin: Cheteshwar Pujara (8/10) Shikhar Dhawan (8/10) Murali Vijay (7/10) Wriddhiman Saha (6/10) Naman Ojha (6/10) Stuart Binny (5/10) Ravichandran Ashwin (9/10) Amit Mishra (8/10) Ishant Sharma (9/10) Umesh Yadav (6/10) Harbhajan Singh (4/10) Varun Aaron (4/10)

[vishalvirsingh]

Virat Kohli (7.5/10) Ajinkya Rahane (6/10) K L Rahul (4.5/10)- he flopped a few times too. Rohit Sharma (5/10) Cheteshwar Pujara (8/10) Shikhar Dhawan (8/10) Murali Vijay (7/10) Wriddhiman Saha (6/10) Naman Ojha (6/10) Stuart Binny (5/10).. he should have got more wickets on this pitch and he should have scored more runs once... Ravichandran Ashwin (10/10)..oh man so many wickets and at least once he batted well. Amit Mishra (10/10).. oh man so many wickets and so many runs...hero of this series. Ishant Sharma (10/10)...was the game changer at least twice in this series and always took key wickets..I feel he tried his best and some catches were also missed on his bowling, only once chandimal changed the game a little. Umesh Yadav (5/10)- I was personally disappointed by his bowling, he should have done as good as Ishant or even better. Harbhajan Singh (2/10).. mis fit, he shud not have played the only test and amit Mishra beat him hands down. Varun Aaron (5/10)- kinda unimpressed.. with such potential he should have outbowled Ishant and umesh as I believe aaron has more potential than Ishant and Umesh.

[sscomp32]

Agree with most the author says except Umesh Aaron and Bhajji. Aaron and Bhajji were 3/10 because they played only 1 test and didnt impress at all. Umesh 2/10 , Clearly pace is not everything when you lack control and bleed runs like anything. :facepalm: Also I would like to deduct one point from Kohli for not playing Bhuvi in that green pitch :mad: P.S. Seems like writer is some one from ICF. Most views match with icfers. :giggle:

[vishalvirsingh]

I kinda agree that Bhuvi could have done wonders too in the last test but that's just a guess.. I thought that Umesh would also do wonders but he did a fair job nothing extra ordinary.

[Detonator]

The Ashwin show, and Ishant's second wind SHARDA UGRA

R Ashwin and Ishant Sharma dismantled the the opposition, Amit Mishra came back strongly, and Virat Kohli grew as captain during the series win in Sri Lanka NaN shares 80 Watch - R Ashwin's five-for in the second innings at the P Sara 9 Virat Kohli (233 runs at 38.83) India's highest run-getter of a series where largely the bowlers ruled. Started with a century in Galle, his scores reading: 103, 3, 78, 10, 18 and 21 and found his dismissal chasing a tempter on the fifth stump over and over. As captain, though, he learnt, and he grew, finding a way to pick up a team from the blue funk of its shock defeat in the first Test. Barring one harried, fretful session at the SSC, carried himself and the team with dignity and equanimity in both defeat and victory. R. Ashwin (21 wickets at 18.09) Man of the series, leading wicket-taker, established himself as lead spinner, who led the charge through consistency and patience, when the innings had to be broken into at the P Sara or chipped away on the final day of the series. His captain said he wanted Ashwin cemented as an allrounder but a tennis elbow injury and scores of 7, 3, 2, 19, and 5 meant he was bumped down the order behind Amit Mishra. Ashwin responded with a vital 58 as India pushed for a tall target at the SSC and then broke the batting with 4 for 69. Ishant Sharma ( 13 wickets at 23.23) India's enforcer in the series, not merely because of his complete range of wicket celebrations or send-offs or heightened dramatic scenes with Dhammika Prasad. This was Ishant as had always been promised and dreamt of - leading the attack, with pace, intensity, discipline, and bloody-minded persistence. Uninjured, unhindered, unleashed. Sticking to the game plan without distraction, fatigue or frustration, he carried the younger pacemen along with him by example. His 200th Test wicket, straight full to Angelo Matthews with the new ball, all but marked the end of the SSC Test and it is to be hoped, has marked Ishant's thrilling second wind as India's leading pace bowler. Amit Mishra (15 wickets at 15, 157 runs at 26.16) Mishra returned to Test cricket after four years and proved to his captain and his teammates just how competitive he could be, bat, ball, and presence. In Galle, he cleaned up the Sri Lankan tail, played perfect foil to Ashwin as pressure-creator and skillful practitioner, bowling quicker through the air and produced the most watchable ball by an India bowler all series - the drifting leg break to Jehan Mubarak at P Sara. The natural leader of the lower order 8 Ajinkya Rahane (178 runs at 29.66) Kohli's much-trusted vice-captain, a middle-order batsman of equanimity, ability and versatility, Rahane moved up to No.3 and handled the reshuffled spot by uncorking a fine second-innings century at the P Sara where he egged the lower order on. His scores with the bat other than the century were meagre, but his role in the field was tremendous. A safe-as-houses first slip to the spinners and gully to the quicks, Rahane's world record of eight catches in the second Test became the standard by which the rest of India's fielders behind the wicket must measure themselves. Cheteshwar Pujara (145 runs at 145) A sudden demand, an assured reply. Cheteshewar Pujara returned to the top of the Indian order as a part of its third opening combination and reminded everyone just how how valuable his gifts are. He scored almost half India's runs in the first innings on an SSC wicket that was a bowling beast. Pujara's assured return at the top has sent out a message to the team's bosses and the selectors - drop me if you can. Cheteshwar Pujara stepped up in a stop-gap role, laying the foundation for India's win at the SSC © AFP 7 Rohit Sharma (202 runs at 33.66) A batsman teetering between being inconsistent and imperious, Rohit Sharma ended up scoring more runs in the series than Indian batsman other than his captain. Deal with that. After the gloom at No.3 and No.4 in Galle, he was moved down to No.5. Rohit responded by cranking out two timely fifties, as only he can with insouciant strokeplay and oh-damn dismissals at the most inopportune times. Yet, when it counted, his second innings effort at the SSC was monumental. He came in 7 for 3 and created two fifty-plus partnerships that helped the visitors create a bulky enough target for Sri Lanka to chase. Love him or loathe him, when Rohit turns up, there's a chance tides can turn too. Wriddhiman Saha (131 runs at 43.66 , 2 catches, 1 stumping) India's injury-prone wicketkeeper was doing fine until his hamstring gave way during a handy batting effort in the second Test. Saha had opened the series by dropping Chandimal on the first day of the tour, but after that clanger, became more assured in his wicketkeeping. He scored two fifties, a more than capable anchor for the lower order. In the five-bowler theory, Saha is a perfect fit. Naman Ojha (56 runs at 28, 4 catches, 1 stumping) Did what he was expected to, after being air-dropped onto the tour, having spent 15 years in first-class cricket waiting for the spotlight. Two years older than Saha, Ojha is definitely as feisty a batsman and not one to be daunted by the occasion. As a keeper, he is yet to be tested by spin on square turners. But Ojha is a quick learner and is noted for having made marked improvement with the gloves just like he's developed his batting over the last five seasons. An assured back up to Saha. 6 Shikhar Dhawan (162 runs at 81) Batting with a hand that was only later found to be broken, Shikhar Dhawan's century in the first innings kick-started India's opening salvos in the Galle Test. His second innings was far slower and tentative, hampered both by a growing injury and Sri Lanka's renewed energy after Dinesh Chandimal's wildfire hundred. To be fair, others who followed him in Galle, could have done more but who knows what Dhawan would have done had he been fully fit? Umesh Yadav (5 wickets at 42.80) Umesh Yadav was quite often very quick, very often a little profligate, but not as disciplined as he needed more times than most. Despite beinng wayward, Umesh produced a work-rate that would have pleased his coaches. His ability to provide the searing breakthrough that others could ride on would have made Kohli's heart sing. Like the first ball bowled to Angelo Mathews on the final day at P Sara when India needed eight wickets to equal the series. Sri Lanka's spirit was broken and it was Umesh who started it. Stuart Binny (76 runs at 19, 3 wickets at 39) The moment team director Ravi Shastri referred to Stuart Binny as the half in the four-and-a-half bowlers, his name became fodder for social media. But Binny did his job as the fifth bowler; producing swing off the Kookaburra, controlling the flow of runs, conceding under three runs an over and being an option for Kohli to lean on. If Binny wants to stay in demand, though, his batting will have to find, what the great Hercule Poirot believed in: order and method. 5 KL Rahul had a Jekyll-Hyde series both with the bat and on the field © AFP KL Rahul (126 runs at 21) The team's youngest member, maybe its most unpredictably eccentric both with bat and on the field. Rahul held on to his opening spot because others around him kept getting injured. Beyond his second Test century (108) at the P Sara, he scored a total of 18 runs from five innings. He did tackle spin beautifully in one innings at the P Sara, but 2,2,2 7 and 5 and his two judicious leaves at the SSC became red-faced reminders that there is considerable work to be done. A few sitters dropped at slip and a few blinders taken. The boy's life is not boring. M Vijay (82 runs at 41) The one Indian batsman who spent most time on the crease over the last 18 months, spent most of his time at the start of the tour waiting to be fit. Vijay turned up at the P Sara and was assured in his 82, but the hamstring wasn't in the shape he it needed to be. It will be a dogfight for the opening spot when South Africa tours India, but if fit and fine, Vijay will be first man in and the first man marking his guard. Varun Aaron - (2 wickets 53.50) Pace like fire was not accompanied by discipline of a nerd and it was what cost Aaron his spot in the eleven. In the second innings, he was munched into by Chandimal, Thirimanne and Mubarak and his ability to work a large number of overs, is still to be developed. Pace is pace, but discipline gets wickets. 3 Harbhajan Singh (1 wicket at 90) A disappointing lone Test for Harbhajan in Galle where he was called in to be the third arm of a spin triumvirate on a turning track. Harbhajan was unable to generate bounce or turn in Galle; when pushed up the order ahead of Ashwin to strike a few blows and thaw out the frozen Indian second innings, Harbhajan found himself entangled in Sri Lanka's spin too. When the team had to be reshuffled for the second Test, he was naturally the first to go.

What a pathetic rating article by crapinfo crapper shaddha. Dogfight for Opening spot? 1 ton and 1 50, Kohli gets 9 and Rahul gets 5? Dhawan, Rahul and Vijay rated lower than Binny, Nohit and "deal with that"?

[G_B_]

Rahane is vice captain? i thought it was ashwin?

[zakk]

meri taraf se sab ko 10 me se 10 :cheer:

[Detonator]

My Ratings Ashwin - 9 Mishraji - 9 Ishant - 8 Pujara - 8 Dhawan - 8 Kohli - 7 Rahane - 7 Vijay - 6 Rohit - 6 Rahul - 5 Saha - 5 Yadav - 4 Ojha - 4 Binny - 3 Aaron - 2 Bhajji - 0.5

[G_B_]

Ashwin 9--- contributed with bat in final test and was the best bowler with the ball in the series Che-8 set up India in the first innings Mishra--8 solid performance in ball and contributed with bat Ishant-8 led the line well Dhawan-8 century and did well v new ball in first test. Mooli-7 0 and 82. decent overall Kohli -7 good runs Saha-7 did a gritty job decent behind the stumps Rahane-6 one big century but a series of low scores beside that. Slip catching got him point IMO Rohit- 6 did well in the second and third test but only from safety of number 5. Has major technique issues. But to be fair he did contribute at 5 in this series. Ojha 6 could have been much better. Threw it away. But provided crucial partnerships Binny 5 did well in final test. But was a passenger in the second. Not test material IMO Rahul-5 got a century so has potential and was handy as keeper back up. I will keep him in the squad but was irritating how he got out. Is averaging 25 with bat overall. Needs to to be less hit and miss. Bhajji 4 toothless and not much with the bat. Umesh 3 spray gun...disappointment in third test. Was the worst pacer in that test. Aaron 2 I feel his buffet bowling allowed Chandimal to attack and change the complexion of he game.

[sscomp32]

The Ashwin show' date= and Ishant's second wind SHARDA UGRA What a pathetic rating article by crapinfo crapper shaddha. Dogfight for Opening spot? 1 ton and 1 50, Kohli gets 9 and Rahul gets 5? Dhawan, Rahul and Vijay rated lower than Binny, Nohit and "deal with that"?

I think its time we should disregard everything from CI. Dont see anything good from CI now days. :headshake:

[vayuu1]

Mine Murli :8/10 Shikhar :8/10 Rahul :5/10 Chepu :8.5/10 Kohli :7/10 Rahane :6/10 Tailunt :7.5/10 Ojha :5.5/10 Saha :7/10 Binny :7/10 Bhajji :2/10 Aaron :3/10 Yadav :4.5/10 Ishu:9/10 Pandit ji and ashwin : 10/10

[rkt.india]

Ashwin 9 Mishra 9 Ishant 8 Pujara 8 Kohli 7 Dhawan 7 Vijay 6 Rohit 6 Rahane 6 Saha 6 Rahul 5 Ojha 5 Binny 5 Umesh 3 Aaron 3 Bhajji 2

[sensible-indian]

That cricinfo article was a JOKE. Absolutely pathetic analysis.

[adi B]

Chepu 11 Ashwin 9 Mishra 9 Ishant 8 Dhawan 8 Vijay 7 Kohli 6 Saha6 Rohit 5 Rahane 5 Rahul 5 Ojha 5 Binny 5 Umesh 4/5 Aaron 3 Bhajji 2

[BeautifulGame]

Ashwin 9--- contributed with bat in final test and was the best bowler with the ball in the series Che-8 set up India in the first innings Mishra--8 solid performance in ball and contributed with bat Ishant-8 led the line well Dhawan-8 century and did well v new ball in first test. Mooli-7 0 and 82. decent overall Kohli -7 good runs Saha-7 did a gritty job decent behind the stumps Rahane-6 one big century but a series of low scores beside that. Slip catching got him point IMO Rohit- 6 did well in the second and third test but only from safety of number 5. Has major technique issues. But to be fair he did contribute at 5 in this series. Ojha 6 could have been much better. Threw it away. But provided crucial partnerships Binny 5 did well in final test. But was a passenger in the second. Not test material IMO Rahul-5 got a century so has potential and was handy as keeper back up. I will keep him in the squad but was irritating how he got out. Is averaging 25 with bat overall. Needs to to be less hit and miss. Bhajji 4 toothless and not much with the bat. Umesh 3 spray gun...disappointment in third test. Was the worst pacer in that test. Aaron 2 I feel his buffet bowling allowed Chandimal to attack and change the complexion of he game.

Agree with most the author says except Umesh Aaron and Bhajji. Aaron and Bhajji were 3/10 because they played only 1 test and didnt impress at all. Umesh 2/10 , Clearly pace is not everything when you lack control and bleed runs like anything. :facepalm: Also I would like to deduct one point from Kohli for not playing Bhuvi in that green pitch :mad: P.S. Seems like writer is some one from ICF. Most views match with icfers. :giggle:

Iam struggling to how can Bhajji be rated better than Umesh . Umesh was disappointing in 3rd test but still took 2-3 wickets .In 2nd test he took the Mathews wicket in 2nd broke their back completely . Whereas all Bhajji did was stink the place in the only test he played .

[Forever Indian]

Ashwin 9 Mishra 9 Ishant 8 Kohli 7 Dhawan 7 Vijay 6 Rohit 6 Rahane 6 Saha 6 Rahul 5 Ojha 5 Binny 5 Umesh 3 Aaron 3 Bhajji 2

Pujara 0? :--D

[Silva]

Rohit scored a couple of important 50s. But so did Saha. Mishra also contributed a couple good Innings. Binny scored an important 49 as well. This was a mediocre Series from nohit, and had he been dropped in the first test in place of Pujara India would probably win 3-0. Not sure why Rohit supporters are acting like averaging 33 and scoring 0 centuries in 6 innings is some kind of accomplishment for a specialist batsman.

[Kalia_Test]

Have to say that Sharda Ugra is growing as a cricket journalist :hatsoff: Can't say the same about CI as a whole as morons like Mukul Kesavan still inhabit it who see Kaanspiracy everywhere Keen analysis and spot on ratings by Sharda without hate for any player :two_thumbs_up: We need more cricket writers like her :agree:

[rkt.india]

Pujara 0? :--D

Editted.