Virat Kohli broke his social media silence to announce the birth of his second child, Akaay last week. However, after India’s series win over England on Monday, the former captain resurfaced with a cricket-related post for the first time in months. India clinched the 5-Test series with a five-wicket victory over England, securing an unassailable lead. Regardless of the outcome in Dharamsala, India will claim the Anthony de Mello Trophy as the Test series concludes at the HPCA Stadium.
The first four Tests saw everything except for Kohli himself. The Indian star withdrew from the opener in Hyderabad three days before, eventually opting out of the entire series for personal reasons. While Kohli’s absence was anticipated to be significant, the emergence of youngsters like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sarfaraz Khan, and Dhruv Jurel has admirably filled his shoes. Hence, it came as no surprise that Virat’s enthusiastic reaction was a tribute to India’s promising next generation of cricketers.
“YES! Phenomenal series win by our young team. Showed grit, determination and resilience,” he posted on X.
Contribution of young players
The contributions of the young players have been pivotal since India’s loss in the Hyderabad Test. Yashasvi Jaiswal showcased remarkable form, amassing two double-centuries and a hundred, tallying over 600 runs in the series. Shubman Gill rediscovered his batting prowess at No. 3, notching scores of 104, 90, and 52. Sarfaraz Khan made a blazing debut in Rajkot, scoring fifties in both innings, while Dhruv Jurel, despite being only two Tests old, displayed maturity beyond his experience.
Jurel’s standout performance earned him the Player of the Match award, surpassing the likes of Joe Root, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Kuldeep Yadav. His crucial knocks in both innings of the 4th Test played a pivotal role in India’s victory. In a challenging situation where India was struggling at 177/7, Jurel’s resilient 90 reduced the deficit to 46, shifting the momentum. In the chase of 192, with India at 120/5 and England’s spinners dominating, Jurel’s composed unbeaten 72-run partnership secured the win for his team.
Akash Deep, the debutant Bengal pacer, made a memorable entry into international cricket by dismantling England’s top order with a three-for in the first innings. Despite stepping in for the legendary Jasprit Bumrah, Akash’s impactful performance, especially his fiery opening spell, reduced England to 112/5.
However, the only disappointment for India has been Rajat Patidar’s inconsistent form. The 27-year-old batsman has struggled, managing just 63 runs in six innings, with a highest score of 32.