India vs Australia 2018/2019 Test Series Review

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,

• 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

India vs Australia 2018/2019 Preview

Much awaited India vs Australia Test series is starting on Dec 6th, before that 3 match T20 series has already completed.

My brief analysis on the just completed T20 series.
Series ended 1-1 with 2nd match abandoned due to rain in the second innings.
My reading was India were lucky to end the series 1-1 despite pathetic fielding performance. Field was one of the worst performance from India in the last few years, even with safe fielders like Kohli, Rohit dropping catches and mis-fielding.

Overall positive for India from the series was bowling of Kuldeep Yadav and batting of Shikar Dhawan, and Dinesh Karthick.

Bhuvi and Bumrah were below par which resulted Aus scoring runs in the end overs and making competitive total.

KL Rahul continue with his poor form and seems like not showing any indication to improve.

Rishab Pant seems like not learning from mistakes and his keeping continues to be poor.

On the overall India should have won this series easily instead of 1-1 against an Average Aus team who consisted primarily of hitters.

Test Series
Early indications of form suggest it will be difficult for India to go with KL Rahul as opener for India. India should fall back with M Vijay. Regarding wicket keeper - Rishabh Pant continues to be below average, and I would like India to go with Parhiv Patel who also has previous experience of Aus tour.

At this stage it seems like 3 seamers will be Shami, I Sharma and Bumrah.
Spinners - Kuldeep Yadav should play instead of Ashwin

Practice match is starting from tomorrow (Wed 28th) - and need to watch out for any the possible lineup from this match.