5 positive things for the Indian Test team in 2015

2015 turned out to be quite a mixed bag year for Team India in terms of performance. While they did a tremendous job by reaching the semi-finals of the 50-over World Cup, they followed it up with a sorry loss against Bangladesh in a bilateral ODI series and also lost a home series to South Africa.However, it was India’s performance in the longest format of the game which turned out to be the bright spot for them this year. There were quite a few positives that came out of the Test team’s display which could go a long way in leading India to further success in the future.Here are 5 positive things for the Indian Test team in 2015:

#1 Reduced dependence on one player

Virat Kohli was the top scorer for India, but not by a huge margin

Not even a single Indian batsman made it to the list of top 10 run-getters of 2015, but looking at it the other way, all the premier batsmen in the team were among the runs. Four out of India’s top five batsmen this year have averages of over 45.

While Virat Kohli is the top run-getter among Indian batsmen with 640 runs, Rahane is not far behind with 593 runs. Openers Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan have scored 522 and 485 runs respectively whereas Cheteshwar Pujara has a tally of 347 runs. Whenever required, reserve players like KL Rahul have also come good as he showed when he scored centuries against Australia and Sri Lanka.

This goes to prove that the Indian Test unit does not rely on one player to keep doing the job for them. Any player can stand up and get counted on any given day.

#2 Emergence of a strong spin attack

Ravichandran Ashwin has been in unplayable form – with 62 wickets in 9 Tests this year

Most of India’s success in Tests played in 2015 can be attributed to their impressive spin attack. Led by the indomitable Ravichandran Ashwin, the spinners have subdued teams like Sri Lanka and South Africa with consummate ease.

Ashwin has been magical, to say the least, in Test cricket this year and has managed to pick up wickets in heaps with 62 in just 9 Tests. But what’s been more commendable is the way in which the other two spinners, Ravindra Jadeja and Amit Mishra, have supported the offie’s efforts.

While the series against Sri Lanka saw Mishra produce some remarkable performances, Jadeja was absolutely brilliant in India’s 3-0 drubbing of South Africa. The combination of these three spinners has made Team India a formidable opposition in spin-friendly conditions, however, how well they do less helpful pitches will determine how good they really are.

#3 A new aggressive captain

Six out of the team’s 9 Tests this year ended up producing a result, with 2 being spoiled by rain

The Indian Test team looks like a completely changed side under the leadership of their new skipper Virat Kohli. The Delhi batsman is aggressive by nature and he is never shy of displaying his trait in anything that he does, whether it is his batting or his captaincy.

Kohli’s very first Test match as captain last year in Adelaide gave everyone ample proof of the fact that he believes in winning alone. And even though India’s first Test this year ended in a draw, the intent to win was clear in all the other matches that India played.

Six out of the team’s 9 Tests this year ended up producing a result, even as inclement weather saw 2 other matches ending in a stalemate. Virat Kohli is completely the opposite of his predecessor MS Dhoni, who used to wait for things to happen, and has been labelled over-aggressive and impatient at times.

However, as long as the results keep coming, not many will complain too much about Kohli’s aggression.

#4 The resurgence of Ishant Sharma

Ishant’s 5/54 against Sri Lanka was his best performance of recent times

The leader of India’s pace attack finally seems to have understood his true potential, at least by what we have seen of him this year. Keeping aside his emotional outbursts in the Sri Lanka series, he had one of his better years in the longest format of the game.

Ishant’s 5 for 54 against Sri Lanka at the SSC in Colombo was perhaps the best one has seen him bowl over the past few years. The best bit has been that even when he is not picking up wickets, the lanky pacer has ensured that he keeps the pressure on from his end by conceding minimal runs.

It will be interesting to see if Ishant Sharma is able to build on the discipline he is trying to bring into his game. His success will only add more momentum to India’s efforts to become a powerhouse in Test cricket once again.

#5 More than decent bench strength

KL Rahul provides good competition to the India openers

The bench strength which had been lacking in Indian Test cricket for the past couple of years seems to be getting stronger by the day starting this year. In the batting department, KL Rahul has been a fine example of India’s strong second line as he already has a couple of hundreds which he scored as a replacement opener.

The moment MS Dhoni hung his boots late last year, India had a ready replacement in wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha. The Bengal keeper who may not have been as prolific as Dhoni with the bat, but he surely has been capable behind the stumps.

India’s fast bowling department may soon be faced with the problem of plenty once Mohammad Shami returns to action in Tests. While Ishant Sharma remained a permanent fixture most of the time, India have afforded to shuffle between Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron for the second seamer’s spot this year.

However, the real test of his bench strength will come only when India is out on some tough foreign assignments.