IND vs SA | Rohit Sharma's 9/10 leads the way as Indian players make merry

Mayank Agarwal (8.5/10): With 340 runs from four innings, Mayank Agarwal stamped his authority at home, after a scourge of ugly runs away from home since his debut. That he could bat was never in doubt, but Agarwal’s persistence to dig in there when the ball was doing its bit revealed his character. He must be kicking himself for being undone by a regulation delivery in Pune, but he had already crossed the 100+ score during that moment which balances things out. It was a true blue moment for the Indian cricket that a guy is not fazed by the surroundings and wants to make the most of the opportunity that he has got. I am ought to give him a fair rating here.

Virat Kohli (8/10): Words fell short to describe the Indian skipper’s masterclass in Pune as the unbeaten 254 was built on the virtue of a single-minded focus and determination, but the dismissal in the Ranchi Test somehow took the spotlight away from him. That, however, could do only that much as the No.2 Test batsman in the world showcased the gulf between him and the rest of the chasing pack with his authoritative captaincy. He was head and shoulders above his African counterpart while utilising his resources, and for Kohli, I would go with an 8. 

Hanuma Vihari (4/10): After a string of solid shows away from home, Hanuma Vihari must have fancied a longer rope in home conditions, something that suits his style of batting, but the cruel twist of luck saw him playing only the first Test. A minuscule score of 10 runs in Vizag didn’t really help the cause in the next two Tests, as India added an extra pacer, but there is little reason for Vihari to lose his patience. 

Wriddhiman Saha (7.5/10): In a world full of flashy superstars, Wriddhiman Saha is the ultimate hero for being the exception from the norm. While the world stood up against him, citing Rishabh Pant’s superior batting record, Saha showed what he's got with the kind of keeping that was brilliant, to say the least. His stunning reflex was the kind of performance for which he had always been rated highly, and what a way to grab the spotlight, again, that he richly deserves. With this batting line-up at the disposal, does it matter if he can bat or not?

Ravindra Jadeja (8.5/10): His bowling in Indian conditions is a proven denominator, but for me, this series was about the maturity with which Ravindra Jadeja batted in the series. It told a different story that Jadeja, who had never taken his batting seriously enough despite having two triple centuries in domestic cricket, played with authority on his way to 30*, 40, 91, and 51 in the four innings he batted. That he had 13 wickets to his name added to the narrative, but the coming of age in his batting to become a pure all-rounder forced me to give an 8.5.

Ravichandran Ashwin (7/10): That the off-spinner still managed to have 15 wickets in the series, despite having a bad match in Ranchi, tells you Ravichandran Ashwin’s impact and of course, the team’s expectations on him. The comeback match in which he had a first-innings seven-for added to his legacy as one of the world’s all-time greatest spinners, something that would have released the monkey off his back. However, with great reputation comes great responsibility, and India would certainly have taken a better performance too.

Umesh Yadav (8.5/10): What is it about the Indian pitches that brings the best out of Umesh Yadav? It might be, as Kohli said, from the attacking lines he bowls, and his fitness which allows him to come back to do the same thing time and time again. His ability to hold the line was a lesson in itself, something that resulted in South Africa suffering the wrath of playing across the line. An excellent way to remind the world of his presence.

Mohammed Shami (8/10): Ditto for Shami. While Umesh had taken the limelight in the second and third Test, Shami’s brilliance in the second innings in all three Tests had a distinct pattern to it. He extracted reverse swing, managed to move the ball late, and his ripping bouncers made South Africa suffer to no end. He might be an erratic performer at times, but you could hardly add that tag to him in this series.

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