India vs Australia 2nd Test – Player Ratings

Australia has made a terrific comeback in the second Test as they defeated India by 146 runs. Tim Paine won a tricky toss and chose to bat first on a really green wicket. The Australian batsmen put up a better show than Adelaide as they scored 326 with half-centuries from Harris, Finch and Head along with some contributions from Marsh and Paine. In reply, India put up a total of 283, thanks to the exceptional innings of 123 from their skipper Virat Kohli. In the second innings, Australia with a lead of 43, added another 243 with useful contributions from Khawaja (72 off 213) and Paine (37 off 116). India, who were set a target of 287, crumbled under pressure as they were bundled out for just 140. India will have to think about their team combination, as the plan to play four pacers didn’t quite work in their favor. Australia will look to build on this momentum and continue their comeback in the Boxing Day Test. Here are the player ratings for the Test match:

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India:

1. KL Rahul – 2/10

KL Rahul had another below-par Test match with the bat. He just doesn’t seem to have the confidence while batting. Looking at his current form, Rahul might have even lost his place in the team.

2. Murali Vijay – 4/10

Murali Vijay was dismissed by Starc once again on a duck in the first innings. In the second innings, he was looking good on 20 but got bowled by a good delivery from Nathan Lyon. It isn’t sure whether he will keep his place for the next Test or not.

3. Cheteshwar Pujara – 4/10

Pujara didn’t back up his performance in Adelaide as he wasn’t at his best in the second Test. In the first innings, it looked like he was set for another big score but got strangled down leg on 24. In the second innings, he got out before getting his eye in.

4. Virat Kohli – 8.5/10

Virat Kohli was supreme in the first innings

Virat Kohli will have to face the criticism for not selecting a front-line spinner in the XI. He played one of his best Test innings in the first innings as he scored a brilliant century to help India reach their first innings total. In the second innings, he didn’t really get going as he scored just 17.

5. Ajinkya Rahane – 7/10

Ajinkya Rahane looked really good in the first innings with a well-made half-century but his dismissal came at the wrong time for India. In the second innings as well, he was looking good but didn’t capitalize on the start he got.

6. Hanuma Vihari – 6/10

Vihari looked solid with his technique as he got scores of 20 and 26 in the match. He was looking set and hence would be disappointed that he didn’t convert them into big scores. He did his job with the ball as he picked up two wickets in the first innings.

7. Rishabh Pant – 6/10

The Indian wicket-keeper couldn’t do much as he was left batting with the tail in both the innings. He played a few big shots to score 36 and 30 in the two innings and was decent behind the wickets as well.

8. Ishant Sharma – 8/10

Ishant Sharma had an excellent game with the ball. He took four wickets in the first innings and kept it tight in the second. He knocked off the tail-enders in the first innings just as they were starting to trouble India.

9. Umesh Yadav – 4/10

Umesh Yadav didn’t have a great game. Even though he picked up two wickets in the first innings, he was expensive. Same was the case in the second innings, as he was expensive once again and went wicket-less as well.

10. Mohammad Shami – 8.5/10

As usual, Mohammad Shami didn’t show up in the first innings as he went wicket-less. But when it came to the second innings, he was absolutely magnificent. He bowled one of his best spells on the fourth day after lunch, as he picked up 6-56 in no time.

11. Jasprit Bumrah – 9/10

Jasprit Bumrah was once again exceptional without much luck. He went past the bat a number of times in both the innings. He was brilliant in the game as he was economical and picked up five wickets.

Australia

Nathan Lyon was exceptional for the Aussies

1. Marcus Harris – 7/10

Marcus Harris was really good in the first innings as he scored his maiden Test fifty. He looked solid and composed throughout his innings. He might be disappointed with his mode of dismissal in the second innings, as he got out leaving the ball, but he did his job for the team.

2. Aaron Finch – 7/10

Aaron Finch joined hands with Marcus Harris to score a crucial half-century in the first innings. He was looking good in the second innings as well but got hit on his finger and got out first ball when he came back later to bat.

3. Usman Khawaja – 7/10

Usman Khawaja wasn’t at his best in the first innings but made up for his poor show in the second, as he scored a gritty 72 off 213 balls. The innings was really important to take Australia to a safe score.

4. Shaun Marsh – 5/10

Shaun Marsh had got a decent start in the first innings but threw away his wicket to the part-time spin of Vihari. In the second innings, he got out before getting his eye in. He could have performed better in this Test.

5. Peter Handscomb – 3/10

Peter Handscomb had another poor Test match. He is getting into all sorts of trouble due to his technique. He didn’t score much in both the innings as he got out pretty cheaply. Australia might think of bringing in another player in place of Handscomb for the next Test.

6. Travis Head – 7/10

Even though he got a crucial 50 in the first innings, he would be disappointed by his way of dismissal in both the innings. He was caught at third man in both the innings as he threw his bat at a wide delivery. Nonetheless, his 50 in the first innings ensured Australia didn’t collapse from a tricky position.

7. Tim Paine – 8/10

Tim Paine had a great game in all three aspects. He batted well in both the innings with scores of 38 and 37. He took some good catches off the bowling of Nathan Lyon and was good as a captain as well.

8. Pat Cummins – 7.5/10

Pat Cummins bowled well but didn’t get much reward. He was constantly troubling Kohli and finally got his wicket when he was batting on 123. He picked up the last two Indian wickets in the second innings. Additionally, he stitched a useful partnership with their captain in the first innings.

9. Mitchell Starc – 8/10

Mitchell Starc has answered his critics in the right way. He was spot-on this Test as he took two wickets in the first innings and three in the second. He even scored some crucial runs towards the end of the second innings.

10. Josh Hazlewood – 7.5/10

Hazlewood did what he does best. He kept bowling tight lines and tested the Indian batsmen. He got four important wickets and scored some quick runs in the second innings.

11. Nathan Lyon – 9/10

Once again, Nathan had a terrific Test match. On a pitch which wasn’t supporting spinners, he took a five-wicket haul in the first innings. In the second, he was brilliant once again as he took three important wickets.