Aakash Chopra: Bhuvi & Saha Biggest Gains of This Test Series

Ashwin and Jadeja= 41 wicketsAll New Zealand bowlers= 42 wicketsThis mind boggling stat shows just how India dominated the series against New Zealand, and the best part is the fact that the pitches weren't dust bowls.In fact, all three pitches were of a different nature including the one in Kolkata, which suited the visitors a lot more than the hosts. The first game in Kanpur was on a slightly spinner friendly pitch that tested batsmen's skills against spin. Though it must be mentioned that even that pitch wasn't a rank turner and that's why the game went into the final day.First Test highlighted the importance of Jadeja in this Test side, especially while playing at home. He's someone who provides unbelievable accuracy with the ball and some crucial contribution with the bat lower down the order. The second pitch had more grass than any of the pitches we've seen in India lately but even there Indian fast bowlers out-bowled their opponents.The second Test that decided the outcome of the series brought out the most important facet of this young Indian Test team-the Will to fight. The tricky Eden Garden pitch demanded both the resilience and technique to come to the fore, and Indian batsmen passed that test with flying colours.The biggest gains from this Test were two relatively lesser known Indian players--Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Wriddhiman Saha. It's not often that Bhuvneshwar gets to play Tests in India but the moment he got an opportunity, he made the most of it. Saha's will to fight out the tough sessions in both the innings stood out and would encourage Kohli to toy with the idea of playing 5 bowlers whenever the need arises in the future.The only grouse in the first two Tests was the lack of centuries in the first two Tests and therefore Indore proved to the perfect icing on the cake. This pitch was the best pitch to bat and Indian batsmen showed that they have the hunger to make the most of the conditions on their liking. Virat's discipline, Rahane's courage and then Pujara's versatility proved that both the present and the future of Indian Test cricket is in safe hands.How can there be any talk about Indian tests at home without dedicating a paragraph to the serial series winner--Ravichandran Ashwin. He's not just the second fastest in the world to reach the 200 Test wicket landmark but has also won more Man of the series awards in Tests than any Indian.In addition to picking bucketful of wickets, he's developed that happy knack of having a wood on opposition's best batsman. If it was AB de Villiers against South Africa, it was Kane Williamson-world's best Test batsman- against the Kiwis. The best part about Ashwin's dominance over Williamson was the modes of those dismissals, for he trapped the player of Williamson's quality in an almost identical fashion every single time.Spin bowling is about deceiving the opponent but to deceive time and again in the same fashion is just sensational. This young Indian team is currently the best Test Team in the world and the ruthlessness in their attitude and a long home season would guarantee their presence at the top for a really long time.

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Aakash Chopra: Bhuvi & Saha Biggest Gains of This Test Series

The former India opener writes about India’s series win and his pick of the performers

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Topics: Indian Cricket Team R Ashwin Bhuvneshwar Kumar