Under Rohit Sharma's leadership, Team India secured one of their most memorable victories over England, winning the five-match Test series 4-1. Yashasvi Jaiswal emerged as a promising talent, showcasing the bright future of Indian cricket, while Ravichandran Ashwin solidified his legacy within the annals of Indian cricket history. England's defeat serves as a significant blow to their 'bazball' approach to Test cricket.
Excluding the initial Test in Hyderabad, England struggled to compete, as India delivered consecutive significant defeats in Vizag, Rajkot, Ranchi, and Dharamshala. The substantial wins in Rajkot and Dharamshala will undoubtedly prompt England Cricket to reevaluate their Test strategy and team composition.
Here are top 10 highlights from the Test series between India and England:
- 1. Yashasvi Jaiswal's consecutive double centuries have catapulted him to prominence in Indian cricket, earning him a place among the sport's legends. The young batsman finished as the top run-scorer in the India vs England Test Series, amassing 712 runs at just 23 years old.
2. A standout aspect of this series was the remarkable performance of a relatively inexperienced Indian squad, which excelled even in the absence of established stars like Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami, and KL Rahul.
3. Prior to the series against England, there were concerns over Shubman Gill's form, with some fans questioning his place in the team. However, Gill rose to the occasion, contributing vital innings that were instrumental in India's success.
4. The series began amidst speculation about the effectiveness of spinners in the contest, with the Ben Stokes-led English team introducing impressive spinners to exploit the Indian pitches. Despite their spinners' good performances, England's batting failures were a significant setback.
5. Conversely, the Indian spinners, backed strongly by their batsmen, proved to be a formidable force. Kuldeep Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja became a terror for the English batsmen, especially when playing under the pressure of high scores.
6. A significant highlight for India in the series against England was the impressive debut of several players. Sarfaraz Khan, Akash Deep, Dhruv Jurel, and Devdutt Padikkal made a remarkable entry into Test cricket, demonstrating the bright future of Indian cricket.
7. Ravichandran Ashwin, India's spin maestro, celebrated his 100th Test match in Dharamshala with two five-wicket hauls, one in each innings, matching Muttiah Muralitharan's record for the most wickets taken in a milestone match.
8. The successful conclusion of the series against England further cemented trust in Rohit Sharma's leadership abilities, showcasing his strategic on-field decisions and the solid coaching methodology of Rahul Dravid.
9. While Indian players dominated the series, England had its moments too, notably veteran James Anderson reaching the milestone of 700 Test wickets, becoming the third fast bowler to achieve this feat. Young talent Shoaib Bashir, at just 19, also emerged as a potential threat to India, highlighting his capabilities.
10. England's batting largely struggled throughout the series, with the ineffectiveness of their 'bazball' strategy against India becoming apparent. Nonetheless, noteworthy performances from Joe Root, Ollie Pope, and Zak Crawley provided some resistance and kept English hopes flickering during the five-match series.
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