Not only was the crushing series victory over England on athletic grounds one of India’s best at home, but it also confirmed their dominance in the longest format, with both youth and experience combining to smash “Bazball” out of the park. India’s enviable dominance at home was threatened by injuries to KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja following the shock loss in the series opener, and the likes of Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami were not available for the entire time. However, over the next four games, Rohit and Co. managed to regain pressure on their aggressive opponents.
In addition to the team’s mainstays, including captain Jasprit Bumrah and R Ashwin, four of the five debutants—Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Akash Deep, and Devdutt Padikkal—demonstrated that they were prepared for the big stage with their performances.
For a team going through change, the future does ap
pear promising.
The young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav were the standout performers that helped India keep the upper hand over England.
It was India’s 17th consecutive series win at home, an incredible accomplishment that is sometimes overlooked.
“It seems like we just take things for granted sometimes. The fact that India has been dominant over the last ten or so years, put together winning series, and haven’t lost many Test matches is particularly encouraging. “The exposure that foreign players receive in this country is not comparable to what they would get in the 90s, 80s, or even early 2000s, before the IPL,” head coach Rahul Dravid said.
He was speaking following India’s 4-1 series victory on Saturday following their innings-long and 64-run triumph in the fifth and final Test played here.
“I understand that the format is different, but familiarity is key. Many English and Australian players have been playing in these conditions for a long time, so they know a lot of people. That’s why it’s much easier now. Nevertheless, it’s a true credit to the players that we’ve been able to uphold that record and the standard.”
Bazball loses to Jaisball
After the legendary Sunil Gavaskar, Jaiswal matured during the series and finished with a total of 712 runs, making history as the second Indian batter to reach the 700-run mark in a series.
The enormous numbers, though, will not be sufficient to gauge the significant contribution he made to the series.
His consecutive double hundreds in Rajkot and Vizag helped to ward off the English. His 209 was the only factor that allowed India to reach 396 in the first innings of the second Test in Vizag; the next best score was 34.
His batting style was typified by his ability to shift gears and absorb pressure, and his incredible 26 sixes during the series said a lot about his power.
More robust and fit Kuldeep gives his deadly spin attack more bite
When bowling together in home conditions, Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin instill fear and doubt in the minds of any opposition. They lived up to their reputation, taking 26 and 19 wickets, respectively.
With Kuldeep Yadav performing at his peak in the last four Test matches, the spin attack became even more lethal, leaving the bewildered opposition with no room to manoeuvre.
His performance in Dharamsala encapsulated his priceless input into the team’s goal. He got the ball to turn much more than others on a flat day one track, culminating in a five-wicket haul as England fell to 218 all out from a bright 100 for one.
The biggest difference has been his ability to bowl at a faster pace with a straighter run up thanks to his increased fitness.
Newcomers make an impression
In their first game together in Rajkot, wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan made an immediate impression.
Before Ben Duckett was sharply run out in the second innings, Jurel finished the first innings with a useful 46. Subsequently, he guaranteed his place in the upcoming Test series for India by scoring a stunning 90 in the rearguard, which nearly propelled the hosts to England’s first innings total of 353.
After having to wait years for his big break, Sarfaraz felt right at home in the Rajkot Test, scoring fifty runs in each innings. His performance against spin was excellent, and in Dharamsala, he demonstrated that he could keep up with Mark Wood’s rapid pace.
Day one in Ranchi saw pacer Akash Deep have the morning of his life as he tore through England’s top-order while Devdutt Padikkal, making his surprise debut in Dharamsala, was a model citizen with his 65 off 103 balls.
In some ways, it’s just encouraging to see the young Indian players’ self-assurance. Little boys with a great deal of self-confidence. a great deal of exposure, and it does help,” Dravid remarked.
“These guys were just playing against England on an A tour.” We were also able to determine which guys were performing and doing well at the time thanks to that.
“The A team serves as the ideal link between the two levels of cricket—domestic and international. The coach continued, “It really helps you identify the players who are in form and can do it.”
Bumrah becomes enraged in Vizag
Throughout the five-match series, Bumrah’s reverse swing spell in Vizag was one of the most spectacular moments to watch. He managed to turn the 25-over ball into a six-wicket haul that was truly amazing.
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We won’t soon forget the thunderous reverse swinging yorker that broke Ollie Pope’s stumps.
