Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma: Why India’s Test cricket is in trouble

Indian cricket enthusiasts are still reeling from the group’s crushing 1-3 battle in the five-match Test set against Australia.

Once strong in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with traditional victories over the mighty Australians over the past century, the travellers fell short, exposing risks in a side much thought unstoppable.

The series highlighted glaring issues – Indian batters struggled, and Jasprit Bumrah was the lone bowler to trouble Australia.

The loss not only cost India the coveted Border-Gavaskar Trophy but also denied them a spot in the World Test Championship ( WTC ) final, breaking their streak of back-to-back appearances in 2021 and 2023, where they lost to New Zealand and Australia respectively.

India’s recent form is troubling – they have lost six of their last eight Tests, including a shocking 0-3 home whitewash against New Zealand.

The team’s level, the future of important people like commander Rohit Sharma and past captain Virat Kohli, and their ability to rebuild have been questioned by the loses.

Indian Test cricket is facing pressing difficulties as a transition team with luminaries receding and a rapidly changing environment.

India’s second red-ball issue is a five-Test collection in England starting July. England’s problems, known for serious shifts even within a program, will test players ‘ approach, skills and agility to the control.

India hasn’t won a series in England since 2007, with only two prior victories ( 1971, 1986 ), highlighting the daunting task ahead. Candidates are left to make difficult decisions regarding person choice and staff configurations for this crucial plan due to recent failures against New Zealand and Australia.

After disappointing adventures in Australia and earlier against New Zealand, batting legends Sharma and Kohli pose the biggest challenge for candidates.

Sharma’s poor type saw him drop for the last game after allowing only 31 runs in three Assessments in Australia. Kohli fared somewhat better with 190 operates in nine wickets, but 100 operates of his entire came in one blow. His dismissals tended to be consistent, indicating a glaring complex flaw or cognitive fatigue under pressure.

Since January 2024, Sharma has managed just 619 works in 16 Testing with one decade. Kohli’s figures are worse over moment- scoring 32 in Assessments since 2020 with just two centuries.

After a late-blooming Test opening and blazing match-winner, Sharma today struggles to find his perfect batting position. However, Kohli’s strange decrease- after a decade of dominance and swagger- has left cricket’s past titan in an expanded slump.

The baton of Indian batting greatness has vanished effortlessly from Sunil Gavaskar to Sachin Tendulkar to Kohli. However, it’s still difficult to find a respectable Kohli replacement.

KL Rahul is talented, but he lacks the desire to keep up his big wins. A thrilling maverick, Rishabh Pant is equally capable of winning or losing a match. Despite his undeniable pedigree and need for careful care, Hubman Gill, who is rumored to be the next Big Thing, has struggled abroad.

Punjab’s young left-hander Abhishek Sharma, mentored by Yuvraj Singh, is highly rated, while Nitish Kumar Reddy impressed on debut in Australia with his fearless performances in tough situations.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, India’s top Test run-scorer in Australia this series, has been the standout among young batsmen. With panache, patience, technical assurance, and explosive strokes, he looks poised to become Kohli’s successor as the team’s talisman.

India’s talent pool is brimming across departments. Jasprit Bumrah, with his 32-wicket haul against Australia, has cemented his status as a fast-bowling colossus. Backed by Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and a dozen promising quicks, India boasts a formidable pace arsenal for all formats.

That said, Bumrah is a once-in-a-generation talent and needs careful workload management. Overburdening him, as in the Australia series, risks breakdowns that could impede the attack. Shami, after lengthy stints in rehab, also requires careful handling. Together, they form one of modern cricket’s most formidable pace pairs.

With Ravichandran Ashwin’s sudden retirement and Ravindra Jadeja’s lukewarm showing in Australia, India’s spin depth looks thin. However, Washington Sundar has shown promise on home pitches, while young spinners Ravi Bishnoi and Tanush Kotian, who joined the squad mid-series in Australia, are knocking on the doors of Test cricket.

The Indian cricket board is moving quickly to usher in a transition after recent losses to New Zealand and Australia. The second round of the domestic Ranji Trophy, which will end on January 23 and goes on forever, has been given to the selectors.

All players, including Sharma and Kohli, are likely to be asked to play domestic cricket, which could help them regain form.

Managing a team in transition poses complex challenges requiring patience, empathy, and clear vision. Unnee-jerk actions or external pressure could worsen the situation rather than bringing about change.

Although it remains to be seen whether Sharma and Kohli can solve their conflict, India’s wealth of talent should alleviate the current gloom in Indian cricket.

It’s worth recalling that in 2011, after winning the ODI World Cup, India was whitewashed 4-0 in Test series against England and Australia. Cricket seemed to hit rock bottom.

But, within months, a revival led by young talents like Kohli, Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Jadeja, Ashwin, and others saw India rise to become the world’s top team across formats, holding that position for nearly a decade.