Internet Desk: India rode on the performances of Jayant Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja to seal a comprehensive 8 wickets win over England in the third test match. It was a clinical performance for the home team with the captain leading from the front. xtratime.in picked three key performers for India who paved the way for a great test match win at Mohali.
Jayant Yadav – The off-spinner has been a revelation in the series so far. Jayant scored a patient knock of 55 runs in the first innings which paved the way for the hosts to score 283 runs. He also accounted for key dismissals in both the England innings. He dented England’s hopes of a big first innings score by getting the prized wicket of Joe Root, getting him plumbed in front of the wicket for only 15 runs. He also got rid of Johny Bairstow who looked set for a big score. In the second innings Yadav again got rid of Bairstow and also had Butler, both failing to make substantial contributions for Cook’s team. He made useful contributions with the bat as well scoring his maiden fifty.
“If I bat well, I can feel it in my bowling. The confidence has grown with the wickets and the runs,” commented Yadav during the second test at Vizag. Jayant’s application reflects India’s growing lower order maturity, and augurs well for India.
Performance: Batting – 55 Runs Bowling – 49/2 & 21/2
Ravichandran Ashwin – Ashwin, who has taken 15 wickets in the series so far, has performed exceptionally well in the batting department too. The all-rounder has accumulated 239 runs at an average of 47.80 in the series. The ball with which he got the England captain in the second innings at Mohali was a gem as the ball went through the gates and crashed on to the stumps. He also accounted for Cook in the first innings as well. In the second innings he dashed England’s hopes by getting Moeen Ali who was promoted in the batting order, and also got rid of Ben Stokes. His contribution with the bat was a big plus for India, ever since he was promoted in the batting order at West Indies.When Ashwin walked in to bat, India were precariously placed having lost five wickets for just 156 runs in the first innings. But his knock of 72 runs gave India a crucial first innings lead. Ashwin also became the first player after Mitchell Johnson in 2009 to score 500 runs and take 50 wickets in a calendar year.
Performance: Batting – 72 Runs Bowling – 43/1 & 81/3
Ravindra Jadeja – He was rightly adjudged the Man of the Match for his all-round performance. He scored a career best knock of 90 runs in the first innings that laid the base for India to take a crucial 134 runs lead. His knock included 10 fours and a six. The partisan crowd at Mohali was entertained by him with a sword dance. He also made useful contributions with the ball giving crucial breakthroughs. In the first innings the left arm spinner broke the partnership (57 runs) between Stokes and Buttler which looked promising for England. He foxed the England all-rounder, getting him stumped. He also accounted for Buttler who looked set for a big score. Later in the second innings, he got the wickets of Joe Root and Gareth Batty to pave the way for an Indian win.
Performance: Batting – 90 Runs Bowling – 59/2 & 62/2
Virat Kohli – Virat Kohli on Tuesday matched his predecessor Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who also had identical stats after 20 test matches as captain. Both Virat and Dhoni had 12 wins, 2 losses and 6 draws. Virat is proving to be a more matured captain with every outing. His knock in the first innings laid the platform for a big first innings total for India. Virat scored 62 runs that included 9 fours. He went into bat when the score was 73/2 and England was looking to get into the Indian middle order. But he stood firm and weathered the tide with Pujara. They both added 75 runs for the third wicket. The Indian captain next stitched a partnership of 48 runs with Ashwin. His bowling changes were top draw throughout the match and were brilliant with his field placements.
Performance: Batting – 62* & 6 Runs
Parthiv Patel – The wicket-keeper from Gujarat has sprung a surprise with his performance after coming back from exile of 8 years. His knocks in both innings, opening the batting was a huge plus for India in this test match. The Gujarat captain had tremendous pressure to perform as he replaced Wriddhiman Saha who had somewhat cemented his place in the side. The left hander negotiated the new ball against the likes of Woakes , Anderson and Ben Stokes. He also took some stunner behind the stumps to send strong message to the selectors. His gloves work behind the stumps top get Bairstow sums it all. Jayant pitched one which went went with the angle but kept very low. Bairstow poked at it and got a bottom edge. Parthiv, behind the stumps, had begun to get up when he realised the ball has kept low. He stopped his initial movement and kept his gloves low and took a brilliant low-catch.
Performance: Batting – 42 & 67* Runs