Anderson and Kohli shine in fourth Test

While Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann made it to the headlines more often due to their superlative show during the series, James Anderson's contribution has been immense even though his figures haven't always reflected the quality he produced.

In Nagpur, like in Kolkata, Anderson troubled India's top order and picked up four wickets to help his side put India under pressure on a pitch that had not much for any bowler. The spell was key in England staying ahead on all four days to finally draw the Test and clinch the four-match Test series 2-1.

After England posted 330 in the first innings, Anderson struck early, dismissing Virender Sehwag with just his second delivery. Sehwag was undone by an inswinger, which, unusually for a Test opener, beat the outside edge and took out middle-stump.

After tea, Anderson switched to the pavilion end, from where Ishant Sharma had savoured the uneven bounce earlier. The ploy worked as he got one to jag back and breach the defences of Sachin Tendulkar.

It was the ninth time Anderson had picked up Tendulkar's wicket in Test cricket. Two-overs later, it was Gautam Gambhir who was found wanting, nicking Anderson to wicketkeeper Matt Prior for 37.

Anderson's fourth victim was debutant Ravindra Jadeja, who was trapped lbw for 12. Anderson has 21 wickets in India. He is four wickets shy off becoming England's most successful pace bowler in India.

"Before coming here everyone said spinners were important. But we knew the seamers had a job to do here," Anderson said after getting the Man-of-the-match award. "I've bowled better that I've bowled before (in India). Reverse swing has been a key part, we practiced it a lot in the nets."

India's captain M.S Dhoni also lauded him for his exploits saying his role was the key. "The difference between the two bowing sides was James Anderson. Credit goes to him as apart from him I don't think anyone other seamer troubled the batsmen," Dhoni said.

While most Indian batsmen struggled against the turning ball, during this series, Virat Kohli left his impression in the fourth Test in Nagpur with a solid 103.

On a slow pitch, which was difficult to negotiate, Kohli showed why he is perhaps the brightest Indian batting prospect. With India tottering at 71 for four, Kohli combined with captain MS Dhoni in a 198-run stand for the fifth wicket to bail India out of trouble.

Kohli, who took 298 balls to reach three figures, kept England's spinners at bay by playing shots only when required and leaving anything outside off-stump. He struck eleven boundaries en route to 103, before Swann dismissed him.

Kohli now has three centuries in Test cricket. His previous Test centuries had taken 199 balls (against Australia) and 187 balls (against New Zealand). Dhoni, who himself scored 99 in the match before being run out, said that Kohli's performance was a highlight for India in the Test.

"[Cheteshwar] Pujara started off really well, another positive is [Virat] Kohli's batting and his attitude and [Gautam] Gambhir got back into runs. So there are quite a few positives," Dhoni said. "Of course we lost the series, but that always happens when two big sides are playing. But we have plenty of positives to look up to."