So India vs Australia most anticipated test series has ended and above expectation India has done well to win the series 2-1.
Scoreline 2-1 does not indicate India dominance in this series line 4-1 loss in England indicated which was series lot closer than scoreline suggested. Here India would have probably deservedly won a Sydney test if there was no weather intervention and in Perth test India did compete despite losing by 140+ runs.
So let us look at the star performers in this series.
Outstanding performer - Pujara, Pujara, Pujara
Only test where he did not score 100+ or 50+ score, India lost that test (in Perth) and in all other test India dominated and won / were in winning position
Standout performers: Bumrah in Fast bowling and Nathan Lyon
Bumrah was the main reason for India to win the Melbourne test just like how Pujara was responsible for Adelaide test win.
Nathan Lyon contributed for Perth Win by taking wickets and keeping Indian batsmen and was also responsible for Aussie being competitive in Adelaide.
In terms rating, I would rate this win above the 2011 ODI World cup win for India.
The main factors for Indian win were,
Scoreline 2-1 does not indicate India dominance in this series line 4-1 loss in England indicated which was series lot closer than scoreline suggested. Here India would have probably deservedly won a Sydney test if there was no weather intervention and in Perth test India did compete despite losing by 140+ runs.
So let us look at the star performers in this series.
Outstanding performer - Pujara, Pujara, Pujara
Only test where he did not score 100+ or 50+ score, India lost that test (in Perth) and in all other test India dominated and won / were in winning position
Standout performers: Bumrah in Fast bowling and Nathan Lyon
Bumrah was the main reason for India to win the Melbourne test just like how Pujara was responsible for Adelaide test win.
Nathan Lyon contributed for Perth Win by taking wickets and keeping Indian batsmen and was also responsible for Aussie being competitive in Adelaide.
In terms rating, I would rate this win above the 2011 ODI World cup win for India.
The main factors for Indian win were,
- Indian fast bowlers out bowled Aus face bowlers in their conditions
- In spin bowling Nathan lyon out bowled India spinners in first two test (in Perth India had no front-line spinner), but in MCG and Sydney he was out bowled by India spinners
- In batting there was no contest, and which where Aus lost.
- Main reason for India win also was, the batting contribution came from other players like Pujara, Rahane, Mayank Agarwal and Pant and not limited to Kohli
So now off to ODI series. The onus is on players who were not part of test series or most part of test series to win this series. I feel Kohli should just relax in this series and not be aggressive.
So that would mean Dhawan, Raydu, MS etc need to contribute in Batting and bowling Bhuvi has to step up in absence of Bumrah
