Tendulkar lauds India's star performers in England series

The Tendulkar-Anderson Test series was one for the ages as nothing separated both the sides post the five-Test series after a thrilling finale at The Oval.

Even Sachin Tendulkar, who shares his name on the series trophy with former England seamer James Anderson, was on the edge of his seat till the very end, gushing about the overall result.

The ICC Hall of Famer praised both the sides for producing a classic series to remember while sharing a word of praise for the Indian cricketers who were crucial in helping the visitors to level up with England, despite the shortcomings they faced throughout the series.

Shubman Gill:

Tendulkar felt that the top run-getter of the Test series was calm, composed and organized.

"His thought process was good and that reflected in his footwork as well.

"His footwork was precise and he respected a good ball, his front foot defence was solid as well.

"Captaincy I feel it has a lot to do with how bowlers are bowling, how disciplined they are and how much they stick to the plan even if things don't go according to your plan sometimes. Since it is important to not get tensed and change your plans completely.

"Against England it is important to dry runs, almost play boring cricket, I felt he controlled the team well against probably the most attacking batting side in Test cricket currently."

Rishabh Pant:

The all-time highest run-getter in Tests lauded India vice-captain Rishabh Pant as a great team man, with no dull moment when he bats at the crease.

"I have enjoyed his batting a lot, especially his reverse scoops. He gets under the ball and has the planned fall to get the length right for those reverse sweeps.

"If you see the opposition, only in the first few minutes they are looking to get him out, after that are just looking to dry runs against him.

"I feel players like Rishabh should be left alone, he has a gameplan, executes it brilliantly and most importantly was there when the team needed him despite injury. He knows how to attract eyeballs."

Mohammed Siraj:

The ICC Hall of Famer felt the Player of the Match in the final Test, Siraj displayed big heart, and called him as someone with immense passion to have bowled 90kmph deliveries with the same energy even on the last day of the tour after bowling 1000+ balls in the series.

"He was just unbelievable and had a superb approach and attitude. I loved the spring in legs.

"His body language was great no matter what the team score was and mind you no batter will like that a bowler keeps bowling with the same intensity coming on your face even after you are doing well.

"The way he got out at Lord's despite defending and the way he dropped the catch (of Harry Brook) in the final Test, I felt that he will do something special to get rid of the disappointments and the bunch of setbacks he faced.

"He was instrumental in playing a key role when India needed him and I feel his contributions are underplayed and he doesn't get the praise he deserves for all that he does for the team."

Ravindra Jadeja:

Tendulkar was of the opinion that the ICC No.1 Ranked Test all-rounder doesn't get enough credit for his contributions towards the team as well.

"He has the ability to rattle the opposition either through his fielding or batting or bowling and can make something happen in every match.

"He has an organized gameplay, knows what to play when and uses his experience brilliantly.

"He is right up there as my crucial player in the series, was amazing with the bat throughout. Simple game, great results!"

Washington Sundar:

The former India skipper was in awe of Sundar's ability to switch gears and his contribution towards the team whenever he was given the chance.

"The series was alive when he was getting his maiden Test century and it was fine that they (Sundar and Jadeja) continued to bat.

"They didn't come in to bat thinking they will score hundreds, they came in to bat with the mindset of drawing the Test. Bowling (Harry) Brook wasn't his (Sundar's) fault and he didn't face Brook when he started to bat.

"They also had to tire out England players going into the last match since the series didn't have a result yet.

"In the last Test, he accelerated, giving India crucial runs to defend. So he knows when to bat slowly and when to accelerate, not to forget his wicket-taking abilities during vital moments."

The openers:

Tendulkar praised openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul and believed their innings laid the foundation for the rest of the Indian batting to capitalise in England.

The icon termed Jaiswal as fearless who knew when to shift gears, while also motivating others (nightwatchman Akash Deep) to contribute with the bat.

"Jaiswal knew when to be aggressive, when to rotate strikes and when to just defend. The hundred he got in the final Test was on a difficult track wherein he showed a lot of character, maturity and determination."

Conceding that this series was the best he had seen of Rahul, Tendulkar praised the stylish opener for frustrating the England bowlers by consistently leaving the balls outside the off-stump.

"When it was in his striking range, he hit magnificent shots and his footwork was precise. He forced England to change plans against him and that immediately made him go one up against them."

The top centurion in Tests also lavished praises on Indian pacers Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna.

"Out of the three matches he played, Bumrah picked fifer twice. He has been a consistent performer, with exceptional quality, I will put him right on the top than anyone else.

"Akash Deep I felt was mentally in control when he was bowling, especially in the second match of the series when he bowled Joe Root, that was the turning point of that Test. Not to forget his batting in the final Test where he scored 66 runs, which pumped India up and demoralised England.

"Krishna struggled with his rhythm early in the series, but was a different bowler in the last Test wherein he bowled a lot of wicket-taking deliveries, getting important breakthroughs. He was controlled and disciplined, more in the batter's face with few verbal exchanges, and I really liked that."

Tendulkar also acknowledged the vital contributions of Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair, adding that he was impressed by what little he saw of the former while appreciating Nair's pivotal role in the final Test.