3 minute read

India's 3-1 <i>Border-Gavaskar Trophy</i> loss to Australia came with several senior players struggling, and one producing one of the greatest tours of all time.

INDIA'S PLAYER RATINGS FROM BORDER-GAVASKAR TROPHY

YASHASVI JAISWAL - 7

391 runs at 43.41 (5 Tests)

Was the feel-good story of the Perth Test with his match-defining second-innings 151, before his form fell in a hole in Adelaide and Brisbane. Looked set for another century in Melbourne before the Virat Kohli mix up, and should have saved the Test for India if he had more support in the last innings.

KL RAHUL - 5.5

276 runs at 30.66 (5 Tests)

His century in Brisbane essentially saved the Gabba Test for India, ensuring they would avoid the follow-on in a rain-marred affair. Other than that, the right-hander failed to pass 40 in any innings while being shuffled between the opener and No.3 spot for out-of-form captain Rohit Sharma.

SHUBMAN GILL - 2.5

93 runs at 18.6 (3 Tests) 

Arrived as India's great young hope, but had a series to forget. Missed a Test through injury, was dropped for another and passed 30 just once. His two dismissals jumping down the wicket in Sydney summed up the horror show.

VIRAT KOHLI - 3

190 runs at 23.75 (5 Tests)

Scored a century when India already had the Test wrapped up in Perth, but failed to produce anything of substance outside of that. All eight of his dismissals came edging balls outside off stump, leaving questions over the future of India's megastar.

RISHABH PANT - 5

255 runs at 28.33, 25 dismissals (5 Tests)

Played the worst shot of the summer when he hit a Travis Head half-tracker down the throat of Mitch Marsh at deep mid wicket, starting the rot that cost India the Boxing Day Test. Went some way to redeeming himself in Sydney with 61 from 33 balls, but lacked any support from teammates to set Australia a difficult target.

ROHIT SHARMA - 0.5

A miserable, miserable tour for India's captain that prompted him to drop himself for the series decider. Didn't score above 10 in five innings, and at age 37 may never play Test cricket again.

RAVINDRA JADEJA - 4.5

135 runs at 27, 4 wickets at 54.5 (3 Tests)

Had more of an impact with that bat than the ball after being overlooked for the first two Tests. His 77 in Brisbane ensured India avoided the follow-on, with a score higher than many above him produced all series. But with Ravichandran Ashwin retiring mid-series, Jadeja only took four wickets in the third-worst series of his storied career.

NITISH KUMAR REDDY - 7.5

298 runs at 37.25, 5 wickets at 38 (3 Tests)

India's find of the tour with the bat after starting as a bowling allrounder. Reddy managed to remove Marnus Labuschagne twice, but his real value came through with a century at the MCG and fighting 42s in Adelaide. Couldn't produce when needed in Sydney, but won't be batting at No.7 for long.

WASHINGTON SUNDAR - 5

114 runs at 22.8, 3 wickets at 38.66 (3 Tests)

Another bowler whose best moment came with the bat, with his half-century late in India's first innings in Melbourne started a fightback that kept them in the contest. His spin was, however, largely ineffective with no real key wickets.

JASPRIT BUMRAH - 10

32 wickets at 13.06 (5 Tests)

Bowled his body into the ground with one of the greatest tours of Australia ever by an opposition quick. Carried India's attack on his shoulders and was virtually unplayable at times. Had his back not let him down before the final innings at the SCG, it could have been a different story for the tourists.

MOHAMMED SIRAJ - 6 

20 wickets at 31.15 (5 Tests)

The highs were great but the lows were troubling. Provided superb support to Jasprit Bumrah in the Perth win, but by the time he got to Melbourne it was Siraj's ineffectiveness in the first innings that hurt India. Bounced back in Sydney, before coach Gautum Gambhir revealed he'd been playing with injury all series.

AKASH DEEP - 4

5 wickets at 54 (2 Tests)

Bowled better than his figures suggested in Brisbane, before being another of India's quicks to lose their way in the first innings at the SCG and fail to give Bumrah the support he needed. Missed the SCG through injury.

HARSHIT RANA - 3

4 wickets at 50.75 (2 Tests)

Bowled superbly on the first evening in Perth to help give India the upper hand, but lost his way in Adelaide and was subsequently dropped.

RAVICHANDRAN ASHWIN - 3

29 runs at 14.5, 1 wicket at 53 (1 Test)

Ashwin's shock mid-series retirement after the Brisbane Test remains one of the mysteries of the summer. Spinners found it hard going this summer, as Ashwin's 1-53 in Adelaide showed, but they could have done with their veteran tweaker after he had already boarded a flight home to Chennai.

PRASIDH KRISHNA - 5

6 wickets at 17.83 (1 Test)

Only played the one Test in Sydney and the paceman looked the goods. Removed Steve Smith twice having him caught behind the wicket in both innings and denying him the chance to reach the 10,000 Test run milestone in front of his home crowd.

DEVDUTT PADIKKAL - 1.5

25 runs at 12.5 (1 Test)

Out for a 23-ball duck in the first innings in Perth, before making 25 in the second. India won the Test, but his returns weren't good enough for selectors to consider using him again once Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma returned.

DHRUV JUREL - 1.5

12 runs at 6 (1 Test)

Earned selection in Perth after some impressive showing for Australia A. Batted at No.6 and made scores of 11 and 1, and wasn't picked again.