Cricketer's Rating : Based on Recent Tour


Two handsome wins and a thrilling draw against West Indies later, MS Dhoni and company seem to have left the nightmares of the England tour behind. Here is the review of the performances of each Indian player during the current series... 

R Ashwin (9/10):
 Player of the series and find of the year. A century and two five wicket hauls with a total of 22 wickets in three Tests. What more could one ask from a rookie off-spinner playing his first Test series. 

Pragyan Ojha (8/10): 
Bowled with cunning and confidence. It's a pleasure watching him flight the ball and beating batsmen sometimes in the air, sometimes off the pitch. His superb spell of six for 72 in the first innings at Kotla put India on the winning track. Overall haul 20 wickets. And yes, don't forget the 14 balls he defended to help Ashwin get his ton. 

Virat Kohli (8/10):
 The Delhi youngster earned his spurs, especially with that wonderful 63 that almost won India the Test. Not a finished article yet but his temperament is proven. 

Umesh Yadav (8/10):
 Deserved to win the man of the match in second Test for bowling his heart out and ending up with a match figure of seven for 103 in placid Eden Gardens. Whips up decent pace with his fluent, clean action. Could be a long distance horse if he keeps improving. 

VVS Laxman (7.5/10):
 His unbeaten 58 was a valuable assist in India's victory at Kotla. And his monumental 176 was pivotal to India's formidable total at Eden. 

Rahul Dravid (7.5/10):
 Solid as a rock and good as gold. With scores of 54, 31, 119, 82 and 33 - he continues to be India's batsman No.1. One only hopes he continues in the same vein in Australia. 

Virender Sehwag (7/10):
 In five innings, the Nawab of Najafgarh's highest score is 60, the lowest being 37. In between he has 55, 55 and 38 to his name. Which means he has recovered form but is not concentrating hard enough. His half-centuries in the Kotla Test, though, was crucial to the team's hard-fought win. The good news is that he is completely fit after the shoulder surgery. 

Sachin Tendulkar (7/10): 
Kept the nation waiting for that elusive 100th ton again. His dismissal at 94 was one of the saddest moments of the series. His classy 76 in the second innings at Kotla was key to India's win. 

MS Dhoni (7/10):
 Failed with the bat barring a powerpacked 144 off 175 balls which ensured that India had plenty of time to bowl out the oppositiontwice in the second Test. More importantly, rediscovered wicket-keeping form and effected a couple of smart stumpings. Led calmly and admirably from the front. 

Varun Aaron (6.5/10):
 Nice to see a young Indian pacer bowl regular at 140 kph even at heartless Wankhede. Will be a decent back-up in Australia. 

Gautam Gambhir (6/10):
 The other Delhi opener too showcased a range of middling knocks that promised much more than they finally delivered. Was unlucky to be given out on 55 when he was looking good in the first innings at Wankhede. Should resist tendency to be over-aggressive. 

Ishant Sharma (5.5/10):
 Gets full mark for effort with the ball, and for his gritty lower-order batting act. Now he needs to bowl more often at the stumps and get some wickets too. Five wickets in 109 overs isn't good enough. 

Yuvraj Singh (3/10):
 Looked out of sorts: short of confidence. Scores of 23, 18 and 25 could have got him another chance in 1970s, not these days. The tumour in his left lung perhaps played on his mind.

Courtesy : TOI

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