Team India were leading 2-1 from the series played in August-September last year. Four of the five Tests were completed at that time, with one ending in a draw, led by Virat Kohli. A draw or a win in the rescheduled fifth Test would have given India another piece of silverware to add to their cabinet, but England batting stalwart and former captain Joe Root and the in-form Jonny Bairstow had different plans. The English duo slammed unbeaten centuries to chase down the huge 378-run target, set by India rather easily. In the process Ben Stokes’ men pulled off their highest successful run-chase in Tests to spoil India’s party.
Apart from Rishabh Pant, who scored 203 runs at an average of 101.50, and Ravindra Jadeja, 127 runs at an average of 63.50, no other Indian batter really rose to the occasion.
This remember was a match where regular captain and opener Rohit Sharma was not playing after testing positive for Covid-19. KL Rahul, who recently underwent groin surgery was also missing. This meant Cheteshwar Pujara had to partner Shubman Gill at the top of the batting order, with Hanuma Vihari batting at number 3 and Virat Kohli coming in at 4.
These four batters though didn’t really step up to the plate. Pujara salvaged some pride with a fighting 66 in India’s second innings, but much more was expected of him, especially after a stellar performance for Sussex in county cricket, where he scored four consecutive centuries.
The scores of Gill, Pujara, Vihari and Kohli in the two innings read – 17, 13, 20, 11 and 4, 66, 11, 20.
Rahul Dravid and co. will have their task cut out to try and sort out the problem of India’s top order not delivering when needed the most.
So what do the graphs of these four batsmen look like in the last one year in Test cricket?
TimesofIndia.com here takes a look at the performance of India’s top 4 that played the Birmingham Test in the last one year in Test cricket:
Shubman Gill (Opener)
A good opening partnership in Test cricket is a solid platform for any team in any conditions. But India sadly didn’t get that in either innings of the Edgbaston Test.
Shubman Gill looked in superb touch when he smashed two boundaries off James Anderson and two off Stuart Broad in India’s first innings. His stay though was soon ended by the experienced Anderson, as Gill had to walk back for 17 after getting a thick edge and giving an easy catch to Zak Crawley in second slip.
(Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)
In the second innings, Anderson didn’t let Shubman stay at the crease for too long either and got rid of him for just 4 runs. The English bowler dismissed Shubman in similar fashion, with Crawley taking a catch in the slips again.
The 22-year-old Gill has played only 3 Test matches in the last year, 2 home and 1 away, and scored 165 runs at an average of 27.50, including one fifty.
Going ahead Gill, who is an extremely gifted batter and now a designated first choice opener for Team India, will have to start scoring consistently.
Cheteshwar Pujara (Opener)
Playing county cricket helped Cheteshwar Pujara regain his lost mojo after a dismal performance in South Africa, where he managed to score just 124 runs in 6 innings, at an average below 21.
But four consecutive centuries for Sussex in county cricket meant Pujara found his name in the Indian squad that was picked for the fifth Test vs England. He was India’s highest run getter in their second innings, but overall his contribution wasn’t one that made any impact.
(ANI Photo/ICC Twitter)
He scored 13 in the first innings before being dismissed by James Anderson and then scored 66 off 168 balls in the second innings.
Pujaras Test record in the last one year has been rather dismal.
In that time period Pujara has played 10 matches and batted in each of them. Two of those Tests were at home and eight away. The veteran batter has scored 525 runs in those 20 innings at an average of 27.63. He has hit four Test fifties in the last one year.
Hanuma Vihari (Batter number 3)
Hanuma Vihari earned praise from all corners after his heroics in Australia when India won their last Test series against all odds. A similar kind of show was expected from the 28-year-old in England, but he too failed to tackle the England bowling attack. He scored a total of just 31 runs in the match (20 in the first innings and 11 in the second innings), falling to pacers Matthew Potts and Stuart Broad in the two innings.
In the last one year, Vihari has played 4 Test matches, 2 home and 2 away, scoring 215 runs at an average of 35.83. He has just one fifty under his belt in that time period.
(AP Photo)
Virat Kohli (Batter number 4)
Former India captain Kohli was pumped up and was seen sledging the England batters, especially Jonny Bairstow. He poked the bear and the bear destroyed everything. Kohli, who is going through a rough phase with the bat, last scored an international century way back in November 2019.
Though his career Test average still reads a healthy 49.53, his average in the last year is below 30. Virat, in the last one year, has played 10 Tests and batted 18 times. Of these 10 Tests, 3 have been at home and 7 away. He has scored 527 in these 18 innings, at an average of 29.27. He has hit three fifties in Test cricket in the last one year.
A comeback knock was expected from King Kohli in the fifth Test but that didn’t happen. failed to raise his bat once again.
(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
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