IND vs ENG: With a 2-2 draw within the collection, there wasn’t a lot to separate the 2 groups, however there have been some sensible particular person performances from each camps.
A 6-run win for Team India, after setting a target of 374.. that has to be one of the best Tests ever, that the team has ever been a part of. Despite some issues throughout the series, including the deciding Oval Test, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, somehow delivered the goods. Entire India is celebrating the occasion and touting this team as the next big thing.
Nonetheless, it is time to speak about some of the brilliant individual performances that the IND vs ENG series witnessed since June. InsideSport takes a look at the combined XI of the series.
Easy Choices for Openers
Ben Duckett: 5 matches saw the southpaw amass 462 runs. That is a staggering showing from the pocket dynamite. Most importantly, he had the best strike-rate in the series — 82.94.
KL Rahul: One of the best batters in the series, Rahul went on to score 532 runs, third-highest in the series. Two fifties and two tons came his way, and he, sort of redeemed his Test career.
Joe Root: There aren’t many contenders for the no. 3 position in the series, as from England Ollie Pope failed. And for India, Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair weren’t great either. So, we give this slot to Joe Root, who went on to score 537 runs in the series, highest for England.
Perfect-looking Middle-order
Shubman Gill: 754 runs in the series is no joke, and the Indian skipper did it quite effortlessly. He went on to get his highest score of 269 as well. Surprisingly, he had 4 hundreds to his name, and no fifties, averaged 75.40.
Harry Brook: Another big name enters the XI. He scored 481 runs, and played instrumental part in taking his side close to the massive target at the Oval. His strike-rate of over 75 in the series, was too hard for India to handle. IN the last match too, when the match was tilted in India’s favour, he counter-attacked, and stitched a 195-run partnership with Root.
Rishabh Pant: Even though Jamie Smith did no wrong in the series, scored runs and kept wickets for 1000 overs, but then still Rishabh Pant was better. In 4 matches he scored 479 runs, and in his last match, he injured his toe, and still came out to bat in the first innings.
Ben Stokes the Leader
Ben Stokes: This team would be incomplete without Stokes. The man bowled his heart out before getting injured. In 4 matches, he bowled 140 overs, and picked 17 overs. At Lord’s he came up with 9 and 10 over spells, that ensured India lost by 22 runs. At Manchester he showed good batting form too, and scored a ton. He is the skipper of this side.
Washington Sundar: Washington Sundar is the perfect all-rounder for this team. He batted his heart out, got his maiden ton, and scored 284 runs at an average of 47. And also picked up 7 wickets, when Shubman didn’t bowl him enough.
And the Pacers Now
Jofra Archer: He just played two matches and had 9 wickets against his name. He proved to be the difference at Lord’s, where he picked up six wickets, after returning to Test cricket, after four years.
Mohammed Siraj: If not for him, India would have lost the series 3-1. England needed only 57 runs with seven wickets in hand, and then he just changed things around with Prasidh Krishna. He bagged the most wickets in the series — 23.
Jasprit Bumrah: There can’t be a playing XI without Jasprit Bumrah. He played three Tests, and was easily the best bowler, at least on the Indian side. He went on to pick 14 wickets in those, at an average of 26.
Editor’s Pick
IND vs ENG mixed XI: Ravindra Jadeja misses lower, Ben Stokes worthy captain
High Tales
