Australia vs India 2018-19: Top 5 performers in the Adelaide Test

The four-match Test series between India and Australia has kicked off to a great start. As expected India's tour of Australia is proving to be an exciting one. The first Test in Adelaide was a good example of that which ended in a thrilling 31 run victory to India.

The Adelaide Test match had everything that the Test cricket requires at the moment. Both the teams couldn't gain a strong upper hand on one another till the last day of the match. Matches like this will be a huge boost to the shrinking popularity of Test Cricket.

In the Test match, there were a few individual flashes of brilliance from both sides. So let's have a look at the top 5 performers in the Adelaide Test.

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#5 Mohammed Shami

Mohammed Shami bowled exceptionally well

Mohammed Shami has been one of the best bowlers for Team India throughout this overseas season. He didn't disappoint the skipper in this match either. Whenever the team needed a breakthrough he provided one.

In the first innings, Australia were looking set to go past India's score of 250. With Travis Head batting on 72 and Nathan Lyon on 24 at the other end, Australia were 235 for 8. In the 98th over Shami got Head and Hazlewood in two consecutive deliveries and ensured a crucial 15 runs lead for Team India.

In the second innings also Shami proved to be crucial. First, he got the all-important wicket of opener Marcus Harris who was looking good at the crease. Then, he picked up the wicket of Peter Handscomb and the priceless wicket of Mitchell Starc at a crucial juncture of the match.

Mohammed Shami's match figure was 5 for 123. He bowled in the right areas at a good pace and hence reaped the rewards.

#4 Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah was fast and accurate during the match

Jasprit Bumrah has been one of the best finds of Indian cricket recently and we have to thank the IPL for that. He is already the no.1 ranked bowler in the white ball cricket and now he is slowly but definitely moving up the ranks in Test cricket. His transformation from white ball to red ball cricket has been phenomenal.

In the first innings of Australia, they were 87 for 4 after the wicket of Usman Khawaja and then a partnership was developing between Peter Handscomb and Travis Head. Bumrah came into the attack and broke the partnership of 33 runs by picking up the wicket of Handscomb. He also picked up the wickets of Cummins and Starc in the first inning.

In the second innings, Bumrah was a game changer. He picked up three wickets and those three wickets turned the match into India's favour. First, he picked up the wicket of Shaun Marsh who was Australia's highest scorer in the second innings with 60 runs. Then he picked up wickets of Tim Paine (41) and Pat Cummins (28) which changed the course of the match.

Jasprit Bumrah was bowling constantly at the speed of higher 140s and he returned with a match figure of 6 for 115.

#3 Ravichandran Ashwin

Ashwin after picking up the final wicket on day 5

Ravichandran Ashwin has been on the firing zone past twelve months or so due to his failure in the overseas tour. But he was good if not great on a somewhat spin-friendly Adelaide pitch.

The Australian batting line-up has six left-handed batsmen so it was obvious that Ashwin will be favourites against them. In the first inning, he picked up the top three left-handers of their batting line-up. Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh were the victim of some fine bowling from Ashwin.

In the second innings, a lot was expected out of Ashwin as he would bowl on day 4 and day five of the Test match. He pulled off a decent performance for the team. First, he provided the all-important breakthrough by picking up the first Australian wicket of Aaron Finch and then he picked up their no. 3 Usman Khawaja.

Just when India was looking in danger due to the partnership between Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood for the last wicket, Ashwin provided India with the match-winning wicket of Hazlewood. Ashwin picked up 6 wickets in the match and recorded his best ever figure in Australia of 6 for 149.

#2 Nathan Lyon

Nathan Lyon picked up 8 wickets in the match

Nathan Lyon pulled off yet another lion-hearted performance against his favourite opposition India. It was due to his effort both with the bat and ball that Australia was so close of a famous win at Adelaide.

Just like India, Australia also went into the match with four bowlers. Lyon was the only recognized spinner on their side and a lot was dependent on him. He didn't disappoint his team and picked up a 6-fer in the second innings. His match figures were 8 for 205.

In the first inning, Lyon picked up the wickets of two very dangerous batsmen who were set to score big. Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant both were playing very attacking cricket until Lyon got them out.

In the second innings, Lyon was the lone fighter from the Australian team. With the patches of rough created on the pitch, he was bound to deliver and he just did that. He picked up six wickets in the inning including the wickets of Pujara, Kohli and Rahane, three of India's best Test batsmen.

Lyon was superb with the bat as well. In fact, Indian bowlers couldn't get him out in both the innings. He was 24 not out in the first inning and 38 not out in the second innings. He almost took Australia to the victory but unfortunately, he ran out of partners.

#1 Cheteshwar Pujara

Cheteshwar Pujara scored 194 runs in the match and was the difference between the two teams

In a match where every batsman struggled for runs, Cheteshwar Pujara gave us a Test match batting masterclass. He scored 194 runs in the match and deservedly given the man of the match award.

India was down and out on the first session of day 1 of the Test match. They were 41 for 4 before lunch and soon after the wicket of Rohit Sharma it was 86 for 5. But Pujara was there concentrating like a monk and played a priceless inning. He made 123 runs in the first inning before he was run out brilliantly by Pat Cummins.

In the second innings after giving a good start Indian openers went out in a quick succession, again Pujara came to the rescue. He had two great partnerships of 71 and 87 runs respectively with captain Virat Kohli and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane. Facing 204 balls Pujara made a resilience 71.

In the Aussie captain, Tim Paine's opinion Pujara was the difference between the two teams and he was absolutely correct. The grit and determination of Pujara turned the match around in India's favour. His innings of 123 and 71 runs will be remembered for years to come.