A drawn series at home against England fell way below expectations. Rahul Bhattacharya marks India's card out of ten India series averages

7 – Sachin Tendulkar
As is usually the case with Tendulkar, statistics told the story: 266 runs, average 53.20, strike-rate 94. He was consistent and explosive, and he got India out of the blocks every time. His 87 not out in 67 balls at Kanpur was a masterclass in belligerence-meets-commonsense one-day batting. He loses marks for the last two matches, at Delhi and Mumbai. A big one in either game would have sealed the series for India.

7 – Virender Sehwag
Averaged less than Tendulkar but demoralised England more. Looked out of sorts in the middle-order but grasped his opportunity at the top at Chennai, and never looked back. He smashed 206 in 185 balls in four innings, and his manner was both exhilarating and effective. His 82 at Kanpur had a savagery and range of strokes rarely seen.

7 – Harbhajan Singh
The best Indian bowler. He took wickets, and took them cheaply. His five-for at Mumbai was a characteristic blitz after an ordinary first spell. As with Saqlain Mushtaq, the one that goes the other way works much better in the one-day game. Was unlucky to make way for Sarandeep Singh at Delhi. Gains a point for quality work in the outfield; loses one for mindless batting.

7 – Sourav Ganguly
A batting average of 47.20, and six wickets at 22 - Ganguly is still a one-day performer of the very highest class. But as captain he didn't take his chances. In consecutive matches at Delhi and Mumbai, he was at the crease on 74 and 80, needing just 61 and 65 to win the match and the series, and should have been hell-bent on finishing the job. Loses a point for denying Javagal Srinath the ball and allowing Andy Flintoff and England's tail to muster 81 at Mumbai.

6 – Dinesh Mongia
Was steady in every innings, and consistent through the series. Showed himself to be an exceptional player of spin, and a safe catcher too. But after scoring 71 at Kolkata, he wasted many a solid start, and failed to leave any lasting flavour.

6 – Ajit Agarkar
Arguably India's most ridiculed player, Agarkar performed - once again – better than popular opinion would have you believe. Was jointly the highest wicket-taker, and batted with some of the sparkle he showed at the start of his career. Unfortunately, lack of support meant his cameos at Delhi and Cuttack were in vain. But his batting strike-rate of 117.74 didn't quite make up for his bowling economy-rate of 6.04.

6 – Javagal Srinath
Bowled with the zest - and cunning - of a man reborn. Loses points for some lacklustre first spells. But at the death, he started doing what he should have done seven years back - yorking and loopy-leg-cutting. There was, at last, some thinking going on. Rightly shunted down to No. 11 in the order.

5 – Ajay Ratra
Proved spunky with the bat, and better than Deep Dasgupta with the gloves: that catch off Nasser Hussain's fine dab at Delhi, and Michael Vaughan's stumping off Sourav Ganguly's medium-pace at Mumbai were very smart. Deserves praise for holding his nerve while chasing at Chennai, but there were far too many moments of sloppiness, and a few muffed opportunities too. All in all, worth persevering with.

5 – Mohammad Kaif
Sharp fielding, zippy running between the wickets, and a fine 46 at Delhi. But the inexperience showed each time he batted. At Delhi and at Mumbai he was required to keep going only a little longer but lost his wicket rashly. Needs to learn to take more runs on the off side.

5 – Anil Kumble
Was stingy in parts but impotent in others. Marcus Trescothick played him outstandingly, most others played him comfortably, and by the end, even Flintoff had no problems. As captain at Chennai, he was composed and seemed to lift the team.

4 – Hemang Badani
Was compared to Michael Bevan before the series began, but never got past 35 in the series and never looked like it either. Sixty-one needed in the last 10 overs at Delhi, only 50 at Mumbai - Bevan would have done it blindfolded. Badani's dropped catch off Trescothick in the last game cost India 95 scoreline-altering runs.

4 – VVS Laxman
Three matches characterised by poor running between the wickets, untypically poor slip-catching, and typical non-conversion of starts. It remains debatable whether the selectors' shock-treatment by dumping him after the first three games helped India - or will set Laxman right.

2 – Sanjay Bangar
An insipid one-match series. He played at Chennai because of Sourav Ganguly's injury but bowled timid, non-seamy tripe. Nasser Hussain's ridiculous shot to get out shouldn't fetch Bangar more than two points. No points for the one off five balls under pressure.

2 – Sarandeep Singh
Was brought in to play in front of his home crowd at Delhi and he did nothing at all. His five overs went for 34 runs and Harbhajan returned for the last match at Mumbai.

Rahul Bhattacharya is staff writer of Wisden.com, India

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