England v India 2014, 2nd Test: Player ratings for Team India

India outplayed England in England: we dont often get to hear this line, butit is what happened at Lords after Ishant Sharma bounced out a listless England batting unit.On a first-daypitch that was hard to differentiate with the outfield, India,led by Ajinkya Rahanes (103)brilliance, posted 295 in the first innings.England managed a lead of 24 runs, courtesy Gary Ballances(110)ton and Liam Plunketts determined fifty. Bhuvneshwar Kumars six-for was not enough for the visitors to stop England from getting their noses ahead.Then it was time for a characteristic Murali Vijay knock:his 95 was an epitome ofdiscipline.Just when it looked like India were losing the plot with the fall of 3 wickets including that of Vijay,Ravindra Jadejas (68) heroics meantthe home side was made to chase a total in excess of 300 on a track that offered uneven bounce.And then came Ishant Sharmas 7-74 that left England shell-shocked as Indiaregistered theirfirst away win in 15 Tests.Ratings are based on the players impact in the game.

#1 Murali Vijay - 8.5/10

Contribution: 24 & 1/12; 95 + 1 Catch

The Tamil Nadu opener carried on from his century at Trent Bridge to ensure that India survived the first hour on a green surface before making an extremely crucial 95 in the second innings.

The 30-year-old was at ease at the crease, leaving most of his deliveries outside the off-stump. His judgement was top class, which helped him stand firm when the wickets kept tumbling at the other end. He batted for 378 minutes that allowed MS Dhoni’s men to recover from a middle order collapse: a period that saw 3 Indian wickets fall for 5 runs.

He also chipped in with a wicket of Moeen Ali in England’s first innings off a full length delivery.

#2 Shikhar Dhawan - 2/10

Contribution: 7 & 31 + 2 Catches

The opener did not last long in both the innings to make any notable contributions with the bat. However, his brisk knock of 31 in the second innings on the third day quickly erased England’s lead, helping his team get off the blocks quickly; the left-hander’s well-timed cut was brilliantly caught at point by Joe Root to cause his downfall.

He also held on to a difficult catch off Matt Prior running away from the slip cordon to break a crucial partnership.

#3 Cheteshwar Pujara - 6.5/10

Contribution: 28 & 43 + 2 Catches

The numbers don’t look quite Pujara-like, but it has more value than one can imagine, as pointed by Ajinkya Rahane while speaking to the press. Put in to bat in the most difficult hours of the day after the early fall of Dhawan in the first innings, the Saurashtra batsman was up to the task, seeing off the shine and in turn helping the lower middle order bat with comfort.

When India batted for the second time, the 26-year-old was well set and looking for a big one but perished playing a loose shot.

#4 Virat Kohli - 2/10

Contribution: 25 & 0

On both the occasions, the right-hander was beaten by swing:James Anderson induced an outside edge off the bat in the first innings, whileLiam Plunketts inswing castled him on the very first ball he faced in the second.

Surprisingly, the 25-year-old hasfailed to get going, so far: 4 failuresin a row. However, there is no questioning of his class, and, hopefully, it is only a matter of time before he shoulders responsibilities. There have been instances of him looking good, like the first innings of the second Test where he stroked at 74, which gives hope to the fans.

#5 Ajinkya Rahane - 9/10

Contribution: 103 & 5 + 1 Catch

With the attention on the more established batsmen in the side, Rahane took English cricketers by surprise with a century on the first day. The 90-run partnership with Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the 8th wicket in the first innings proved that the selectors have invested in the right players to take over the mantle from the retired Indian greats. The manner in which he dominated the proceedings in the last session ensured that India survived the day and recovered from a precarious 145 for 7.

He never looked uncomfortable facing the swing and bounce and scored runs at a good strike rate when the stakes were high. A failure from him would have been curtains for the side. The Mumbai batsman, though, stood up to the challenge and proved that he is here to stay. The right hander was wrongly adjudged to have gloved a bouncer that was taken by wicket-keeper Matt Prior in the second innings.

#6 MS Dhoni - 5/10

Contribution: 1 & 19 and 6 Catches

The captain:

The Indian captain was proactive on the field and trusted his bowlers to deliver. His intent to make things happen, instead of his usual instinctive style of captaincy, gathered attention. He was innovative in his field placings, aggressive with his strategies and gave extended spells to key bowlers: a refreshing change to his usual defensive approach.

The batsman:

He was one among those who fell for the seam movement off the pitch in the first innings. In the second, when India lost 3 quick wickets, Dhoni managed to buy some time for Vijay who was building up the lead. The 33-year-old made 19 off 86 balls - his slowest ever Test innings – in a partnership of 79 runs for the fifth wicket:

#7 Ravindra Jadeja - 8/10

Contribution: 3 & 2/46, 68 & 1/53 + 1 Run out + 1 Catch

The Rockstar failed in the first innings with the bat and was lucky to claim Joe Root leg before. On the third morning, he accounted forAnderson. In the second innings,the left-hander playedwhat could easily be referred to ashis best Test innings till date. His attacking 68 off 57 balls took the game away from England. The8thwicket stand arun-a-ball99with Bhuvneshwar lifted India and instilled in them the belief to push for a victory.

InEnglands chase, making full use of the footmarks, he struck the first blow, trappingSam Robson lbw,and nearly claimed a second Moeen Ali on the same day,too.Despite going wicketless inthe fifth day, he wasthreateningand complimented Ishant well by conceding just 53 from 32.2 overs at an economy of 1.63.

#8 Stuart Binny - 1/10

Contribution: 9 & 0/45, 0 + 1 Catch

Nothing much to write about. Was not trusted with the ball, and he can’t do anything about it. But the 30-year-old could have made the most of his chances with the bat to make a name for himself, which he failed to do so. He made it to the team on the back of a match saving half-century, but his intent to look for runs resulted in a brain fade in the second innings, getting out for a duck trying to slog off-spinner Moeen Ali.

In the first innings, he was ruled out leg-before off a delivery that hawk-eye predicted to miss the stumps.

#9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar - 9/10

Contribution: 36 & 6/82, 52

The bowler:

He gave his everything in the second day of the match, where he contributed 17 overs out of the first 36 bowled by India. His extended spells did not lack energy and constantly troubled the England batsmen with swing. His six-for covered up for the lack of support at the other end. He neither has the height nor extracts bounce, but he applies himself very well and has perfected the art of swing: something for Indian bowlers to take heart from.

However, he went wicket-less in the second innings.

The batsman:

Not many can bat the way he batted in the first innings. A still head and a proper technique were his advantages, and he countered the moving ball with authority. His numbers speak for his abilities.

#10 Mohammed Shami - 4/10

Contribution: 19 & 1/58, 0 & 1/33

He wasslightly under-bowled in both the innings of the Test. The Bengalbowler broke athreatening partnership between Prior &Plunkett in the first innings before claiming Gary Ballance in the second. The 24-year-old also scored some useful runson day 1.

#11 Ishant Sharma - 9/10

Contribution: 12* & 0/61, 0* & 7/74

Picking up 7/74 and bowling your team to victory is how you justify the tag of the ‘attack-leader’. With an old ball, the bounce and pace that he generated from the surface was surprising.

Was rightly awarded the Man-of-the-Match.