India vs England 5th Test: Report card of India's top 4 in Test cricket in the last one year

Team India were leading 2-1 from the series played in August-September last year. Four of the five Tests were completed at that time, with one ending in a draw, led by Virat Kohli. A draw or a win in the rescheduled fifth Test would have given India another piece of silverware to add to their cabinet, but England batting stalwart and former captain Joe Root and the in-form Jonny Bairstow had different plans.

The English duo slammed unbeaten centuries to chase down the huge 378-run target, set by India rather easily. In the process Ben Stokes' men pulled off their highest successful run-chase in Tests to spoil India's party. Apart from Rishabh Pant, who scored 203 runs at an average of 101.50, and Ravindra Jadeja, 127 runs at an average of 63.50, no other Indian batter really rose to the occasion.

This remember was a match where regular captain and opener Rohit Sharma was not playing after testing positive for Covid-19. KL Rahul, who recently underwent groin surgery was also missing. This meant Cheteshwar Pujara had to partner Shubman Gill at the top of the batting order, with Hanuma Vihari batting at number 3 and Virat Kohli coming in at 4.

These four batters though didn't really step up to the plate. Pujara salvaged some pride with a fighting 66 in India's second innings, but much more was expected of him, especially after a stellar performance for Sussex in county cricket, where he scored four consecutive centuries. The scores of Gill, Pujara, Vihari and Kohli in the two innings read - 17, 13, 20, 11 and 4, 66, 11, 20.

Rahul Dravid and co. will have their task cut out to try and sort out the problem of India's top order not delivering when needed the most. So what do the graphs of these four batsmen look like in the