India vs England 2018 2nd Test : Player Ratings

After a keenly contested series opener at Edgbaston, India and England locked horns at the Home of Cricket, The Lords. The contest did promise to be a cracker, however, it turned out to be a one-sided affair as the visitors lost by a margin of an innings and 159 runs.

The conditions prior to the match were largely in favour of India. The weather in London was hot, the surface was dry which enticed skipper Virat Kohli to opt for an additional spinner. However, as the heavens opened, the behaviour of the pitch changed drastically as the conditions turned to atypical English.

England won a crucial toss and put the hosts to bat. James Anderson was at his savage best, as the 36-year old pacer annihilated the Indian batting line up amidst nature's interference Except for Kohli and Ashwin, all other batsmen looked ill at ease as the visitors were bundled out for 107.

The English innings was hit with top order dismissals, but Jonny Bairstow and Chris Woakes steered the affairs in the hosts' favour with their immaculate batsmanship. Woakes hit his maiden Test century to get his name on the Lord's Honours Board. England took a mammoth 289-run lead, batting India out of the game.

The second innings of India was no different from the first, as the batsmen failed miserably, with Ashwin top scoring once again. James Anderson and Stuart Broad picked up 4 wickets apiece, as the hosts overpowered the visitors inside 3 days of lay, taking a 2-0 lead in the series.

The teams meet next at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, in a space of 5 days for the next encounter.

Let's take a look at the rating of players of both the teams:

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India:

R. Ashwin was the best performer for India

Murali Vijay - 1/10

Murali Vijay had a disastrous Test match, as he was dismissed for a king pair. Vijay found himself ill at ease and fell to against James Anderson in both the innings.

KL Rahul - 2/10

KL Rahul was given the nod ahead of Shikhar Dhawan in the match and promoted to the opening slot. However, he could not make an impact in either of the innings, as India started on a catastrophic note.

Cheteshwar Pujara - 4.5/10

Returning to the squad after missing the game at Edgbaston, Pujara was unfortunate to be involved in a mix-up and lost his wicket for a solitary run in the first innings. He showed some character in the second innings.

Virat Kohli - 4/10

The skipper made some surprising changes in the squad which did not pay off. He did show some resistance in both the innings, despite his back strain.

Ajinkya Rahane - 4/10

The overseas batting key for India faltered yet again with dismal scores in both innings.

Dinesh Karthik - 1/10

Karthik failed to make an impact as a wicketkeeper-batsman, managing just a solitary run in the match. He took a good diving catch of Jonny Bairstow.

Hardik Pandya - 5.5/10

Hardik had a decent outing with the ball, claiming 3 wickets. However, could not impress with the bat.

Ravichandran Ashwin - 6.5/10

Perhaps the best performer for India in the match, Ashwin was not successful with the ball, with conditions not favouring him. He put up great resilience with the bat, finishing as the highest scorer and unbeaten in both innings.

Kuldeep Yadav - 2/10

Kuldeep was expected to marshall the bowling attack as he was picked up ahead of an in-form Umesh Yadav. He didn't bowl in the right areas and ended up wicketless.

Mohammad Shami - 6/10

Shami was the best Indian bowler in the match, as he bowled beautifully upfront. Despite going for runs, he claimed 3 scalps.

Ishant Sharma - 2/10

Sharma failed to replicate his Lord's heroics as he could manage only a single wicket.

England:

England delivered a clinical performance

Alastair Cook - 3/10

Cook did start off briskly with some beautiful drives but could not convert his start.

Keaton Jennings- 2/10

He fell cheaply again, as he failed to get his team to a good start. He was beaten comprehensively by a beautiful delivery from Shami.

Joe Root - 4/10

The English skipper ushered a sense of calmness after two early setbacks. However, he could not play a defining knock.

Ollie Pope- 4/10

The young debutant did play a good hand with his skipper to provide some stability to the innings. Made a quickfire 28, and was sharp in the field with Pujara's run out.

Jonny Bairstow- 9/10

Bairstow played a crucial knock and completely took away the match from India with a match-defining 189-run partnership for the 6th wicket. He was unfortunate to miss a well deserved century by 7 runs. He was extremely handy behind the stumps as well.

Jos Buttler - 3/10

Buttler did start off well, scoring at more than run a ball, but could not make use of his start.

Chris Woakes - 9.5/10

Coming in as a replacement for Stokes, Woakes batted gloriously for his maiden Test hundred. He remained unbeaten and scored at a brisk rate. Also claimed 4 wickets with his handy fast bowling, including the precious scalp of Virat Kohli in the first innings. He was rightly adjudged as the Man of the Match.

Sam Curran - 7/10

Curran once again gave the ball a good whack lower down the order. He also claimed the wicket of Dinesh Karthik in the first innings.

Stuart Broad - 7/10

Broad picked 5 wickets in the match and completely ran through the middle order of India in the second innings. He complemented Anderson extremely well in conducive fast bowling situations.

James Anderson - 9.5/10

James Anderson breathed fire as he devastated the Indian innings with his lethal swing. Claimed a 5-wicket haul in the first innings and 4-wicket in the second, as he picked up his 100th wicket at The Lord's.

Adil Rashid - N/A

Adil Rashid played this match as a fielder, as he neither got the chance to bowl nor to bat. Hence, we cannot provide ratings for his outing.