After achieving an impressive whitewash, here's a look at how each player of Team India fared over the three-Test series.
India's thorough dominance during 3-0 drubbing of Sri Lanka justify their No. 1 ranking in Tests. Individual brilliance apart, Kohli & Co stand out with collective effort. Taus Rizvi rates their performances
Note: Rohit Sharma, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar did not play
1. Virat Kohli
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Virat Kohli (4/10)
(As captain, he deserves 8/10)
For the Indian captain, the series was fruitful as a leader, achieving 100 per cent result and retaining the No. 1 position. However, Kohli’s struggle with the bat continued. Barring a second innings century in the first Test in Galle, he did nothing of note.
M: 3, Runs: 161, HS: 103*, Ave: 53.56, 100s: 1, 50s: 0, C: 3
-AFP
2. Shikhar dhawan
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Shikhar Dhawan (7/10)
He was holidaying in Hong Kong with his family when received an SOS to join in place of the injured Murali Vijay. Dhawan saw an opportunity here to cement his Test berth. He began with a scintillating 190 followed by another 119 in the third Test.
M: 3, Runs: 358, HS: 190, Ave: 89.50, 100s: 2, 50s: 0, C: 4
-AFP
3. KL Rahul
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KL Rahul (6/10)
The most unfortunate man in Indian cricket, KL Rahul, making another comeback, once again had to sit out of the first Test due to ill health. He returned for the next two to crack back-to-back 50s. Both could have been converted into hundreds, but fate had something else in store.
M: 2, Runs: 142, HS: 85, Ave: 71.00, 100s: 0, 50s: 2, C: 2
4. Abhinav Mukund
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Abhinav Mukund (5/10)
In the squad as third opener, Mukund got an opportunity in the first game itself in place of the indisposed Rahul. He flopped in the first innings but bounced back in the second with a decent 81. However, it was his one-hand catch at silly point of Niroshan Dickwella that caught the eye.
M: 1, Runs: 93, HS: 81, Ave: 46.50, 100s: 0, 50s: 1, C: 1
5. Cheteshwar Pujara
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Cheteshwar Pujara (7/10)
The run machine once again showed why he is the most trusted batsman. He bored the hell out of an ordinary Sri Lankan attack with his solid defence and some attacking strokeplay and scored a century each in the first two Tests.
M: 3, Runs: 309, HS: 153, Ave: 77.25, 100s: 2, 50s: 0, C: 3
-AFP
6. Ajinkya Rahane
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Ajinkya Rahane (6/10)
Rahane’s silenced critics with a century in Colombo, his first after 17 innings. The Mumbai batsman started off with a half century then slammed his ninth Test ton in the second Test that gave him the much needed relief.
M: 3, Runs: 229, HS: 132, Ave: 76.33, 100s: 1, 50s: 1, C: 8
7. Hardik Pandya
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Hardik Pandya (7/10)
Going to Sri Lanka with a very ordinary first-class record, Pandya showed why he is cut out for the big stage. In Galle, he showed a teaser of his batting talent with 50 but the full picture was on show in the third Test with a devastating ton. Has got crucial breakthroughs to justify his all-round status.
M: 3, Runs: 178, HS: 108, Ave: 59.33, 100s: 1, 50s: 1, Wkts: 4, BBI: 2/31, Ave: 23.75, 5w: 0, C: 4
8. Wriddhiman Saha
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Wriddhiman Saha (6/10)
The Bengal wicketkeeper-batsman has come into his own now after taking over from MS Dhoni. While he may not have dominated with the bat, he did more than a commendable job behind the wickets, coming off with some great catches and smart stumpings.
M: 3, Runs: 99, HS: 67, Ave: 33.00, 100s: 0, 50s: 1, C: 8, St: 2
9. Ravichandran Ashwin
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Ravichandran Ashwin (6/10)
The last time Ashwin went to Sri Lanka, he got 22 wickets including two 5-wicket hauls and won man of the series. This time, he could manage just 17 with just one five-wicket bag. The off-spinner did not look his own self and lacked confidence too. Maybe, the English county stint will bring back his fizz.
M: 3, Runs: 132, HS: 54, Ave: 44.00, 50s: 1, Wkts: 17, BBI: 5/69, Ave: 25.88, 5w: 1
-AFP
10. Ravindra Jadeja
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Ravindra Jadeja (6/10)
Turn or no turn, this left-arm spinner doesn't need pitch’s assistance to be himself. The Lankan batsmen continued to struggle against his pacy darts. He also got past the 150-wicket milestone with ease. His man-of-the-match show in Colombo ended on a sour note with a suspension for indiscipline.
M: 2, Runs: 85, HS: 70*, Ave: 85:00, 50s: 1, Wkts: 13, BBI: 5/152, Ave: 28.76, 5w: 1
11. Md Shami
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Md Shami (6/10)
Playing his first Test series in Sri Lanka, the Bengal fast bowler posed some serious questions in the minds of the hosts batsmen with his pace and accuracy. Shami did not get wickets in bulk on unfriendly tracks, but was more than effective giving crucial breakthroughs.
M: 3, Runs: 57, HS: 30, 50s: 0, Wkts: 10, BBI: 3/32, Ave: 17.70, 5w: 0, C: 1
-AFP
12. Umesh Yadav
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Umesh Yadav (4/10)
The Vidarbha Express had a quiet series compared to what he had in the previous seasons at home. On non-seamer friendly tracks in Lanka, he gave able to support to Shami. Yadav was the most expensive among bowlers with economy rate of 3.76.
M: 3, Runs: 22, HS: 11*, 50s: 0, Wkts: 6, BBI: 2/21, Ave: 35.83, 5w: 0
13. kuldeep-yadav-bcci-photo
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Kuldeep Yadav (5/10)
The left-arm wrist spinner from Uttar Pradesh would not have got a chance had Jadeja not been suspended. Yadav grabbed the opportunity with both hands, foxing the Lankan batsman with his flight and turn to grab four wickets in the first innings.
M: 1, Runs: 26, HS: 26, Ave: 26.00, 50s: 0, Wkts: 5, BBI: 4/40, Ave: 19.20 5w: 0
