India went into the opening Test at the Lord's as the favourite side with a strong batting lineup. The visitors ended the same Test with few individual high points and a galactic sized room for improvement. A look at the playing eleven and how they fared in the lost Test.
MS Dhoni: The Indian skipper was most prolific with the ball. The wicket-keeper batsman can possibly do it all and yet could not take his Number 1 Test side to a win. Slow over-rates added to his woes and a lack of an aggressive intent from Day 1 itself did not help either. Claim to fame from the Test would have been troubling Kevin Pietersen with his slow medium-pace.
Sachin Tendulkar: The most-watched player failed to come good in the Test. That he missed his 100th international ton by a margin that contradicts his legendary record can only be understood if his fever is taken into account. 34 and 12 runs in the two innings from India's most experienced player meant very little to the dynamics of the Test.
Gautam Gambhir: Has a lethal reputation as an opener. The stylish south-paw has rich experience too but he could not make either of the two count although points for braving the English bowling despite a sore arm in the second innings is due. This though counters logic as he scored less (15) when he played fully fit than (22) when was suffering from a aching left arm.
Abhinav Mukund: This player from Tamil Nadu had the experience of just three Tests coming into the Lord's match. A gutsy 49 however silenced any who may have doubted his ability to tackle the English pace attack. A deja-vu however was not meant to be as the 21-year-old fell on just 12, just when his team required another solid foundation from him.
Rahul Dravid: One of the few highlights for India from the opening Test. An unbeaten 103 in the first innings was more a show of his solid determination than another milestone reached. There was a momentary lapse in concentration that cost his second innings wicket but he had done his bit already.
VVS Laxman: For all talks of his style and class as a veteran Test pillar for India, 10 in the first innings and the inability to convert his half-century in the second although his team required it of him, does not command too much cricketing respect. Laxman cannot be expected to save Tests consistently but more time spent in the middle would have helped the side.
Suresh Raina: Controversial decision to opt for him over Yuvraj did not pay dividends. Indians play spin well but Raina was trapped leg-before in the first innings by Graeme Swann before he could taste his first run. Under pressure in the second innings, he delivered with his 78, the highest for India but with wickets falling all around, he gave up the fight as well. An economy rate of close to 8 while bowling meant as a part-time option, Raina still has some adjusting to do when it comes to rolling his arm over .
Harbhajan Singh: One of few silent players in the side during the Test, Harbhajan went about his job with uncharacteristic calm. He bowled 56 overs, took one wicket and had an acceptable economy rate in both the innings. Spin was not expected to take the Lord's by storm in any case.
Praveen Kumar: Took his first 5-wicket haul in Test cricket and looked menacing while he had the stamina. Managed to move the ball and trouble the English with nagging persistence in the first innings. Returned in the second innings to claim one wicket but success evaded him this time around.
Ishant Sharma: The lanky pacer bowled 32 overs without success in the first innings only to return with vengeance and take four quick wickets in the second. The need to rest when English batting seemed on the verge of collapse however, takes the sheen off his performance in the Test.
Zaheer Khan: India's pace spearhead drew the first blood in the Test. He then smeared himself with the wicket of English skipper to reduce the hosts to 62 for 2. Celebrations though took its toll, perhaps, on him as a strained hamstring meant he had to take the ring-side view of the proceedings for over four days of the Test.
