Three matches into the series, England sat smugly on a 2-1 lead over India. Until that the point the toss seemed to be the decisive factor. However, India bounced back strongly, and England lost a close contest in the fourth match before being outplayed in the fifth.
Unlike the Indians, England did not experiment much. They stuck with to same XI, the only replacement being due to an injury. Here is a report card for them.
Jora Archer: 8.5 (M 5, W 7, Econ 7.75)
Only one ordinary match for Archer, the fifth. Until then, he had series figures of 16-1-112-7. He peppered the Indians with the short-pitched ball, at times beating them for pace. Bonus for the slog in the fourth match.
Jos Buttler: 8 (M 5, R 172, SR 147, C 2, S 1)
The most assured of the English batsmen, Buttler hit the most sixes in the series (10). He shepherded England to one win and threatened to pull off a chase of 225 in another. Did a decent job behind the stumps.
Ben Stokes: 8 (M 5, R 84, SR 150, W 3, Econ 8.83)
No standout performance – and yet, Stokes had the best strike rate, bowled crucial overs, and fielded brilliantly. An efficient, if unspectacular, series for him.
Mark Wood: 8 (M 4, W 5, Econ 8.06)
Missed a match, failed in the last, but had 12-1-76-5 from the other three. Between them, he and Archer formed a pair the Indians found too hot to handle early in the series.
Jonny Bairstow: 7 (M 5, R 118, SR 137)
Looked completely in control in the two successful chases. Got out just when he looked threatening twice. Fielded well.
Jason Roy: 7 (M 5, R 144, SR 132)
Two failures and three forties for Roy. The strike rate could have been higher, given how well some others have batted.
Adil Rashid: 7 (M 5, W 4, Econ 7.78)
Rashid bowled the first over in all four matches India batted first here, something he is not used to, and did a decent job. Did not adjust well with the wet ball when India chased.
Dawid Malan: 6 (M 5, R 148, SR 120, C 5)
For a batsman of his class, Malan struggled in unfamiliar conditions. The fifth match provided a glimpse of what could have been. Bonus points for his five catches.
Sam Curran: 5 (M 5, R 23, SR 178, W 2, Econ 7.80)
Figures of 8-1-51-1 in the first three matches, 2-0-27-1 after that. “He was not used” is probably the most appropriate phrase.
Chris Jordan: 4.5 (M 5, W 4, Econ 10.51)
Jordan had 8-1-62-3 in the two matches England won, and 10.5-0-136-1 in the three they did not. Half a point for the catch in the final match.
Eoin Morgan: 1 (M 5, R 33, SR 110)
A forgettable series for captain Morgan, who might have promoted himself in the third match.
Tom Curran: 0.5 (M 1, Econ 13)
Two ordinary overs when he filled in for Wood.