Although the Indian versus England Test Rajkot Test ended in a draw, it wouldn’t be an understatement to claim that it was a moral victory for the visiting team and they would have plenty of positives from this game to take with them to Vizag and a few areas where they would like to improve.

On the other hand, the Indian team have a lot to work on and there aren’t many positives. However, if there is any Indian Team that can fight its way back and play like the NO. 1 squad, it has to be this Team.

Here is the compilation of hits and flops from Rajkot.

Flops (India)

1. Ravichandran Ashwin; Gautam Gambhir; Ajinkya Rahane

This might be a little harsh on them, but India needed a lot more contribution from these three players. Ashwin’s 3/230 is his worst bowling figures since 2012, and that is how dependant India have been on him. If India needs to improve, Ashwin needs to perform upto the level that we know him to perform. Gautam Gambhir’s second innings at Test Match Cricket, this might be too early to criticize but only because we know what Gambhir is capable of doing and henceforth judge him by his standards. With, Vijay getting some runs under his belt, if Gambhir comes to his own that would be one brilliant opening partnership India would definitely want from its openers. Rahane comes to this list only because of the way he got out in both the innings. Rahane is a much better Test cricketer than that shot suggests. Hopefully he will work out his technique to play a short of a length, turning ball, against the spinners.

2. India’s fielding

India’s fielding was far away from its best. India dropped as many as three catches in the first session of Test match itself and many more in the days to come. No catch would just stick to their hands. Even the best of fielders dropped sitters, including Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and even keeper Wriddhiman Saha. If India hopes to play better cricket, this is one aspect that they must work upon. India needs to take its chances and even more convert half chances into wickets.

Hits (India)

1. Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara

The two Indian Test specialist batsmen have yet again impressed with their performance. Pujara started from where he had left against the New Zealand at Indore and made another century in the first innings against England at Rajkot. Even in the second innings, Pujara was extremely unlucky to be given out leg before when the replay showed that the ball had clearly pitched outside leg stump. Vijay got his century after a while, yet seemed fluent right from the word go. Even in the second innings, Vijay got set and played around 11-12 overs before getting out, an innings of huge importance when one realizes that the game ended in a draw and only 4 of India’s 10 wickets remained.

2. R Ashwin with the bat

R. Ashwin was amazing with the bat in both the innings and one of the primary reasons why India was successful in pulling off a draw. Ashwin scored over a 100 runs in the match and most importantly hung in there with his captain Virat Kohli to ensure that India do not lose the match. Had Ashwin got out early, match result perhaps would have been different.

Flops (England)

1. B Duckett

England played so brilliantly that the man who only got one chance to bat is in the list because everyone else got their opportunities and made it count. Duckett is a strong character and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he gets going with the bat.

2. Stuat Broad and Chris Woakes

England fast bowlers looked ordinary and weren’t able to create a lot of impact neither with the new ball nor with the old ball. Perhaps the England fast bowling unit has to bowl to different line and length to create impact in the Indian pitches.

Hits (England)

1. Moeen Ali

This man loves performing against India. For his all round performance in the match, he is also the Player of the Match. Ali scored a wonderful century arguably his best till date, in terms of application of his technique in the first innings and took wickets that almost sealed victory for his side.

2. Joe Root, Alastair Cook, Haseeb Hameed

Root is perhaps the very best in the lineup. First Test, first innings, England in a spot of bother with three down for around 100 and comes the man and scores a 100 and perhaps sets the tone for the rest of the series. If Root plays well throughout the series, England will have every chance of winning this because he is an impact player. Cook displayed his class once again, another player who loves India and Indian conditions. Cook would like to carry this form to the rest of the tour.
Hammed is a find for the future. This teenager showed why was there so much buzz around his debut with his wonderful innings of 83 in the second innings and more importantly getting involved in a wonderful partnership with Cook.