England vs India 2018: Top batting performances from the Test series

Sadly, but finally, one of the best Test series played in recent memory has concluded. It was a series which enthralled the entire cricket fraternity with nail-biting finishes. It was a series where individuals mesmerized with their charm and prowess. It had 'fairy-tale' finales. It had career saving battles.

It was also a series which will be remembered as an enterprise for the revival of Test cricket. Maybe the 4-1 scoreline won't resemble that. But, it truly was a 'celebration of Test cricket'. We'll have a look at the top batting performances in the series.

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#7 Jos Buttler's resurgent 106 at Trent Bridge, 3rd Test

Jos' ton at Trent Bridge was his first in Test Cricket

After being 2-0 in series, England succumbed inside a session in their first innings on Day 2 of the Trent Bridge Test. Jos Buttler had a little cameo of 39 in that innings. Before this innings, his scores read 0, 1, 24. At the end of the play, he had come to the press conference and spoke about individuals taking responsibility to eradicate the ever-growing collapses.

In their second innings, at 62-4 he came in with a chance to do it on his own. And he did. His 169-run partnership with Ben Stokes halted another collapse. His maiden Test ton and some of his series-defining partnerships will keep the England vice-captain in good spirits ahead of crucial away tours. He is going to play a vital part in England's lower-middle order in upcoming years.

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#6 Alastair Cook's farewell 147 at the Oval, 5th Test

Cook had a perfect farewell innings

With England wrapping up the series in the fourth Test at Southampton, former captain Alastair Cook decided to call it a day ahead of fifth and final Test at the Oval. In his final innings as England opener, he had a memorable one to cherish. He missed 12 out of his first 50 deliveries he faced. But with some desire and grit, he scored 147 before bidding adieu.

In the process, he also went on to become the most prolific left-handed batsman in Test cricket with 12,472 runs. What a fairy-tale end to an illustrious career.

#5 Kohli's majestic 97 & 103 at Trent Bridge, 3rd Test

Virat Kohli scored 593 runs in the series

After a steady start, the Indian top order had faltered again in quick succession. It was up to the captain and vice-captain to do the rescue act. With 2-0 down in the series, Virat Kohli, the captain was under a lot of pressure.

At 82-3, he delivered again with a patient and masterful 97 as he took India to a safe position. Though he missed out on a ton, the situation he was in made this knock a memorable one. And he added another delightful 103 in the second innings to aggregate 200 runs in the match to be adjudged 'Man of the Match'.

#4 KL Rahul and Pant's 'career-saving' 4th Innings tons at the Oval, 5th Test

KL and Pant during their monumental 204-run partnership

KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant combinedly took 14 catches in India's win at Trent Bridge. But the duo had an awful tour with the bat until the final innings of the series, mainly for KL, who is under immense pressure after a string of failures with the bat. His delightful fifth hundred in as many countries has ended a debate for one opener slot.

Before his maiden ton, Rishabh Pant had some mixed times in his short 3 test career. First, he opened his account with a six, then went on to give away a lot of byes while keeping. But the young man had risen to the occasion to brought up his first ton in test cricket which is only the fourth by an Indian keeper in away tests and that too with a six.

#3 Sam Curran's series-defining knocks in 1st, 3rd and 4th Tests

Sam Curran had a stellar series with both bat & ball

Sam Curran had a sensational series with both bat and ball. Especially with the bat, he took England to safe shores many a times in the series. He had three such series-defining innings.

One of them came in the first test at Edgbaston. At 87-7, England was in deep trouble. Curran, with his quick 63 tilted the balance of the test result. Again in the fourth test, when they were 86-6, he delivered with a mature 78 to take them to 246. Even in the second innings, along with Buttler, he stitched one of the two crucial partnerships with a well-made 46.

It is truly remarkable to see a 20-year-old guy showing tremendous grit and maturity in tough conditions against a top quality side like India.

#2 Pujara's gritty 132* at Southampton, 4th Test

Pujara's breakthrough innings in away tests

Like many other times, after being dropped from the team, Pujara again made a statement with his gritty ton in the fourth test. Have you remembered his sprint to the pavilion after his run-out in Lord's Test and his shocking pull in Trent Bridge Test?

Imagine the kind of pressure he was in. Add India's situation (195-8) to it. All these situations made this innings a memorable one for him. He played brilliantly with the tail to bring up his 15th Test century.

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#1 Virat Kohli's incredible 149 and 51 at Edgbaston, 1st Test

Kohli's astonishing 149 set up an enthralling opening test match

Virat Kohli's 149 in the first test is not only his first test hundred in England, it was a knock which announced him as the best batsman of this generation. It was a knock which buried the ghosts of the 2014 tour. It was a knock came in one of the best test match ever played in recent times.

He almost single-handedly won the match for India. But all that doesn't come easily. He showed a lot of courage and patience against the out-swingers from English seamers and especially against his arch-nemesis Anderson. He was missed and beaten many times in this knock than any other innings he's played in Tests. It was an innings of determination, desire, and prowess.