India’s quest for a historic Test series win in South Africa saw both brilliance and struggles. Here’s the comprehensive report card evaluating the performances of Indian cricketers during the series.
Individual Performances:
1. Rohit Sharma (4/10, Poor): The captain faced difficulties against Kagiso Rabada, showcasing struggles with the incoming deliveries. His captaincy in the Boxing Day Test raised questions.
2. Yashasvai Jaiswal (4/10, Poor): On his first tour to South Africa, Jaiswal struggled with the steep bounce but showed glimpses of talent. His role as a new-ball attacker was evident.
3. Shubman Gill (4/10, Poor): Also on his first Test tour in South Africa, Gill, despite being considered an all-format cricketer, couldn’t produce significant innings.
4. Virat Kohli (7/10, Good): Kohli’s contributions were notable, with impressive knocks, especially in challenging conditions. Though no centuries, his consistency stood out.
5. Shreyas Iyer (3/10, Very Poor): Iyer’s struggles against short-pitched deliveries were exposed. His vulnerability to bouncers and fuller-length deliveries affected his performance.
6. KL Rahul (8/10, Very Good): Rahul’s century in Centurion was praised as one of the top 10 by an Indian. His counter-punching against South African pacers showcased resilience.
7. Ravichandran Ashwin (6/10, Above Average): Despite not being initially part of the tour, Ashwin’s contribution with the ball in unfavorable conditions was noteworthy.
8. Ravindra Jadeja (4/10, Poor): Limited opportunities; out for a duck in Cape Town Test. Didn’t get a chance to bowl in the match.
9. Jasprit Bumrah (9/10, Excellent): Player of the series; outstanding return to Test cricket with 12 wickets in three innings, carrying India’s bowling load.
10. Mohammed Siraj (8/10, Very Good): Showed adaptability; inconsistency in the first Test but a remarkable six-wicket haul in the second Test.
11. Shardul Thakur (3/10, Very Poor): Bowling form dipped, dropped for the second Test; may face questions about his future in the Test side.
12. Prasidh Krishna (3/10, Very Poor): Test debut; needs improvement to be an ideal bowling partner; picked only two wickets in the series.
13. Mukesh Kumar (7/10, Good): Impressive debut; four wickets in the Cape Town Test; looked threatening and well-prepared.
