Abhishek Purohit selects the ones who played crucial roles in their team’s performance
MS Dhoni
Being the captain, Dhoni was the person who was blamed the most for all those humiliating losses against England and Australia. Similarly, when the script changed, this time the pendulum swinging India’s way, the maximum credit also goes to the skipper.
His breathtaking 224 when his team was precariously placed in the first Test at Chennai, set the tone for the rest of the series and was indeed the match-changing knock under pressure. That knock stemmed the flow of confidence into his captaincy. Dhoni marshaled his troops well. Of course, the doctored home conditions supported his team. Dropping Sehwag ensured that we could see a great act from Shikhar Dhawan. Also, Dhoni’s positive approach in field setting was exemplary.
Ravindra Jadeja
India’s success was helped by a lot of young players’ success and fourth match’s Man of the Match — Jadeja, is one of them. The Saurashtra man took 23 wickets in the whole series and was a vital cog in the India’s wheel. The left-arm spinner took wickets whenever the team needed. His bowling improved as the series progressed and his control over the ball kept getting better. Although, his batting was not impressive, his ability to bowl natural variation accurately with consistency made him a lethal weapon. Ask Oz skipper Michael Clarke who was dismissed five times out of six by him!
Ravichandran Ashwin
Man of the series Ashwin scalped 29 wickets, which is highest for an Indian in taking most wickets in a Test series post Harbhajan Singh’s heroics in 2001 against the visiting Australians. After a brief struggle against the British, Ashwin hanged on to the basics. The off-spinner kept pitching the ball just outside the off-stump enabling it to spun towards the middle and leg stump. His 12-wicket haul in the first Test made India take that all-important first win. He benefited most from the purchase from the dry and dusty wicket. Also, knowing that left-handers will profess sweep shot against him, he plotted the downfall of the likes of Cowan and Warner by watching out the duo making the leg-stump open, was a very good sight.
Murali Vijay
The highest run scorer of the series (430), Vijay’s knocks of 167 and 153 in both the first innings of second and third Test, was fine exhibition of old-school Test cricket. He trusted his technique, played the waiting game and supported Pujara and Dhawan in those Tests quite well. With a slightly changed batting stance, the Chennai man punished the weaker deliveries and gave respect to the good balls. He along with his partners made sure that India don’t miss Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir.
Cheteshwar Pujara
With 419 runs, the Saurashtra man was the second-highest run-scorer in the series. Justifying the comparisons with Rahul Dravid, in terms of ability and skill, he gave a good account of himself when he was asked to open the innings with Vijay. He made full use of his meticulous skill and pure technique coming of with two classic knocks of 204 at Hyderabad and 82 on Saturday at the dusty Kotla track. His rock solid defence against fast bowlers and correct traditional approach to spinners made it easy for him at Kotla while others struggled.
Michael Clarke
The Australian skipper was the lone batsman who did his reputation as a batsman no harm. In three Tests he played, he accumulated 286 runs. He waged a lone battle in the first two Tests with 130 and 91 being the highlights. But, he succumbed to Jadeja, who made him a bunny taking five times. As a captain, he could not have done much having such an inexperienced side which was not at all equipped to thrive in Indian condition. Clarke’s two decisions summed up the trip for him. Dropping Nathon lyon at Hyderabad was a flaw and supporting coach Mickey Arthur in suspending four players was a dubious step make it a forgettable tour for him, for sure.
Nathan lyon
With 15 wickets, lyon is the second best performer in the Australian team. In the first Test, lyon was making a huge impact with his control till Dhoni came and took the game away. Dropped in the second Test, lyon didn’t have success at Mohali taking a wicket in each of the innings.
But, when Australia were trying to give a fight at Indians in the first innings at Kotla, lyon hunted the Indian down by taking seven wickets and helped the visitors restrict India with only 10 runs lead. In the second innings, he took two wickets and was looking dangerous. Taking Sachin Tendulkar’s wicket thrice was the highlight for him.