Why is India's test cricket in trouble?

Indian cricket fans are still reeling from the team's 1-3 defeat in the five-match Test series against Australia.

Once dominant in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with a historic win over the mighty Australians over the past decade, the tourists fell short, exposing the weaknesses of a side that had long seemed invincible.

The series highlighted highlights – the Indian batsmen struggled, and Jasprit Bumrah Only the bowlers troubled Australia.

The loss denied India not only the coveted Border-Gavaskar Trophy but also their place 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 has been worrying – they have lost six of their last eight Tests, including a 0-3 drubbing. Whitewash Against New Zealand.

The defeat has raised questions about the team's depth, the future of key players like captain Rohit Sharma and former skipper Virat Kohli and their ability to rebuild.

A team in transition and with stalwarts fading, Indian Test cricket faces pressing challenges to sustain its legacy in a rapidly evolving landscape.

India's next red-ball challenge will be a five-Test series in England starting in July. Conditions in England, known for dramatic changes even within a session, will test the players' tactics, skills and adaptation to the limits.

India have not won a series in England since 2007, with only two previous wins (1971, 1986), highlighting the tough task ahead. Adding to the pressure, recent defeats against New Zealand and Australia left selectors grappling with tough decisions on player selection and team composition for this critical campaign.

The form of batting stars Sharma and Kohli has been the biggest headache for the selectors after disappointing outings against Australia and earlier against New Zealand.

Sharma managed just 31 runs in three Tests in Australia, his poor form saw him dropped in the final game. Kohli did slightly better with 190 runs in nine innings, but his total of 100 runs came in one innings. His dismissal follows a pattern – caught at slip or behind the stumps – indicating a glaring technical error or mental exhaustion under pressure.

Since January 2024, Sharma has only scored 619 runs in 16 Tests, including a century. Kohli's numbers have gotten worse over time – averaging 32 with only two centuries in Tests since 2020.

Once a late blooming Test opener and fiery match winner, Sharma is now struggling to find his ideal batting position. Meanwhile, Kohli's surreal downfall – after a decade of dominance and sway – has sent the former titan of cricket into an extended slump.

From Sunil Gavaskar to Sachin Tendulkar to Kohli, the baton of Indian batting greatness has flown seamlessly. But a worthy successor to Kohli remains elusive.

KL Rahul has class but lacks the appetite for consistent big scores. Rishabh Pant is a thrilling maverick, equally capable of winning or losing matches. Shubman Gill, touted as the next big thing, has struggled overseas despite his undeniable pedigree and needs careful upbringing.

Punjab's young left-hander Abhishek Sharma, Yuvraj Singh's mentor, is highly valued, while Nitish Kumar Reddy impressed with his fearless performance in tough conditions on his debut in Australia.

India's highest Test run-scorer in Australia in this series, Yasshwi Jaiswal, has been outstanding among the young batsmen. With panache, patience, technical assurance, and explosive strokes, he looks set to succeed Kohli as the team's talisman.

India's talent pool is full of diverse categories. Jasprit Bumrah, with his 32-wicket haul against Australia, cemented his status as a fast-bowling colossus. Backed by Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj and a dozen promising quicks, India boast a formidable pace arsenal across all formats.

That said, Bumrah is a generational talent and his workload needs management. Overloading him like in the Australia series could hamper the attack. Shami, after a long stint in rehab, also needs careful handling. Together, they form one of the most potent pace duos in modern cricket.

With Ravichandran Ashwin's sudden retirement and Ravindra Jadeja warming up in Australia, India's spin depth looks thin. However, Washington has shown promise on the beautiful home pitch, while young spinners Ravi Bishnoi and Tanush Kotian, who have joined Australia's mid-series squad, are knocking on the door of Test cricket.

Smarting from recent losses to New Zealand and Australia, the Indian cricket board is set to usher in a swift turnaround. The selectors have been instructed to pick potential Test players from the second round of the domestic Ranji Trophy, which resumes on January 23.

All the players, including Sharma and Kohli, are likely to be asked to play domestic cricket – a move that could help them regain form.

Managing a team in transition presents complex challenges that require patience, empathy and clear vision. A knee-jerk reaction or external pressure can worsen the situation instead of providing a solution.

Whether Sharma and Kohli can overcome their crisis remains to be seen, but India's wealth of talent will lift the current gloom surrounding Indian cricket.

It may be recalled that in 2011, after winning the ODI World Cup, India were whitewashed 4-0 in the Test series against England and Australia. Cricket seems to have hit rock bottom.

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