4 Positives for Team India in the England Series

#4 Other flashes of brilliance

Apart from the team efforts, the Indians have had their moments through individual brilliance which is narrated below:

Ashwin’s seven-wicket haul in the first Test match

Ashwin took seven wickets in the first Test

Ashwin took seven wickets in the first Test match. He was in fine form on the very first day of the series. He took 4 for 62 in the first innings and 3 for 59 in the second innings.

He took the all-important wickets of England top-order batsmen Alastair Cook, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Joe Root and Jennings. Sadly, he could not maintain his good form in the rest of the matches.

Hardik Pandya’s five-wicket haul in the first innings of the third Test and 50 in the second innings of the third Test

Hardik Pandya came good only once in the series

At Trent Bridge, Hardik Pandya made his presence felt by removing the England Captain Joe Root with his very first delivery. Thereafter, it was easy going for him as he hit the road to take a five-wicket haul in 29 balls. This helped India to claim all the 10 wickets of England in one extended session of play.

In batting too, Pandya was not far behind when he scored a run-a-ball half-century in the second innings.

Ravindra Jadeja’s performance of 86 not out and a seven-wicket haul for the match in the final Test.

Jadeja impressed one and all in the only Test he played

Ravindra Jadeja came into the series only for the last Test match. In the first innings, he bowled exceptionally well to come up with figures of 4 for 79. His wickets include Jennings, Stokes and Buttler.

In reply to England's first innings score of 332 runs, India were in trouble at 160 for 6 when Jadeja joined the debutant Hanuma Vihari. These two put on 77 runs for the 7th wicket. Jadeja remained not out on 86 with the help of 11 fours and one six.

Jadeja proved to the Indian think-tank what they were missing in the first four Test matches of the series.

KL Rahul’s career-saving innings of 149 in the second innings of the final Test

Rahul scored a career-saving 149

After repeated failures, Rahul finally came good in his 10th innings of the series when he scored a fabulous 149 runs with the help of 20 fours and one six.

In the Oval Test, chasing a target of 464, India were at one stage reduced to 2 for 3. That was when Rahul got going as he put on 118 runs with Ajinkya Rahane for the fourth wicket.

After that, Rahul put on 204 runs with Rishabh Pant for the 6th wicket. Rahul completed his century off 118 balls. As long as Rahul was at the wicket, the Indians had an outside chance of chasing down the target.

Rahul's welcome return to form augurs well for Team India.

Rishabh Pant’s maiden Test century in the final Test

Rishabh Pant became the first Indian wicket-keeper to score a century in the fourth innings of a Test match

Rishabh Pant was under fire coming into the Oval Test match. His keeping was below par and his batting was T20 mode.

When Pant came out to bat in the second innings of the last Test, it was now or never for him. He started hitting the spinners Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid out of the attack. He didn't spare the fast bowlers either as Stokes and Anderson were given the charge.

Pant was fearless in his approach. Pant completed his 50 off 78 balls. His second 50 came off just 39 balls. Pant reached his maiden Test century in style by hoisting Adil Rashid for a huge six.

Pant's century came off 117 balls with the help of 14 fours and 3 sixes. Pant became the first Indian wicket-keeper to score a century in the fourth innings of a Test match.

Out of all, the one performance that will forever be etched in memory will be King Kohli’s domination of the England bowlers right through the summer closely followed by the lion-hearted efforts of the three fast bowlers.