After two Tests, England are up 2-0 in their home series against India. Here’s a look at how the tourists have fared so far.
Murali Vijay
How does a player with such fluent strokeplay and who’s so nice to watch have such an unimpressive Test record? After a pair at Lord’s, Vijay’s average has dipped below 40.
Rating: 2
Shikhar Dhawan
With a chase of 194 in the fourth innings of the first Test, it was set up perfectly for Dhawan to chime in with a quick-fire 40 that could have turned things.
Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to deliver and was dropped. There are some question marks over his technique on these pitches.
Rating: 3
KL Rahul
With 35 runs in total this series, concentration has been a problem for Dhawan and he must not hang the bat out like he did when playing on in the first Test. Potential needs to become runs – soon.
Rating: 3
Cheteshwar Pujara
An excellent average of 62 at home becomes 34 when away, plus he’s had a lean start to the English summer, which saw him overlooked for the first Test.
Really needs to lift for the rest of the series to take the pressure off his captain.
Rating: 4
Virat Kohli
His performance in the first Test was one of the greatest individual showings of all time.
A superb run out, a brilliant 149, some astute captaincy – especially with the use of Ashwin – and then a second innings 50. The only thing he failed to do was get his team over the line, though he didn’t have much help from his teammates with the bat.
In the second Test, his greatest mistake was losing the toss and he couldn’t rescue his team in difficult conditions from there. Criticism of some of his selections have been fair, especially picking two spinners at Lord’s.
Rating: 9
Virat Kohli (AFP PHOTO / SAEED KHAN)
Ajinkya Rahane
Really disappointing ways of being dismissed for an experienced and quality campaigner. Not good enough from this batsman.
Rating: 3
Dinesh Karthik
Was untidy with the gloves first up, struggling with the Duke ball’s swing and taking balls on his wrist and chest. With the bat he has looked all at sea, with flaws in his technique seeing him get bowled through the gate or LBW first ball in the second innings at Lord’s.
Should make was for Rishabh Pant.
Rating: 1
Hardik Pandya
Has at least shown a bit of application, which his more senior teammates have not, although has failed to go on and get a score.
Still, he kept India’s hopes alive with a bit of maturity in the first Test before falling short, then bowled with heart in the second Test.
Rating: 7
Ravi Ashwin
India’s second-best cricketer and the next best on this tour after his captain. Was excellent with the ball in the first Test, taking a bag in the first innings, and was the only player to really stand up with the bat in both innings at Lord’s.
Rating: 8
Ishant Sharma
Bowled what probably should have been a match-winning spell in the first Test, if not for some poor catching and a strong innings from Sam Curran. Not the same effect at Lord’s.
Rating: 7
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Mohammed Shami
Six wickets in two Tests isn’t a bad return, but he doesn’t seem to have the ability to really swing a Test like Bhuvneshwar Kumar could.
Fitness doesn’t appear to be as good as it should be.
Rating: 5
Kuldeep Yadav
Was nervous bowling at Lord’s, which is understandable. He sprayed it a bit, but can still have a role to play this series.
Rating: 3
Umesh Yadav
Disappointing in the first Test, he needs to provide a more consistent line and length if he wants to trouble the English batsmen.
Rating: 3
The bowling has been the brightest light spot, Sharma and Ashwin having done their jobs in the first Test, with some support from Shami.
However in both Tests, only Kohli, with some support from his allrounders, have put their hands up with the bat.
If India want to get back into this series, their batsmen will need to step up as soon as Jimmy Anderson bowls his first ball at Trent Bridge.
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