What leads the Indian test team?

India’s defeat in the first test against England in Headingley is just a bitter pill to swallow. With Yashasvi Jaiswal, Kl Rahul, Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant marking tons. India has managed to explode the match from a position of greater force. During their last 9 games (3 vs NZ, 5 vs aus and 1 vs engine), we just managed to win a confrontation, that also in Perth.

South Africa in this time won 8, Australia 6, England 5, New Zealand 4, Pakistan 3, Sri Lanka 3, Antilles 2 and Bangladesh 2. This statistic is worrying, as well as alarming. But why does the test team fail as much, that too suddenly. In 2024 November, they lost their first series at home in more than a decade, then could not keep the BGT? What is the Indian test team? Is it the striker, the bowling alley or the field?

Bad alignment, poor quality capture

The captures win you matches; India has never taken this seriously, it seems. Let’s not go very far and consider only the leeds test. India has dropped guards. Yashasvi Jaiswal dropped four catches in the match. The very sure Ravi will Ravijeja also let a couple slide, as well as a difficult opportunity for the pants. In fact, Bumrah to his own bowling down has dropped one.

Harry Brook, during his first rounds, was abandoned once on 0, then in 40, then in the sixties. He finally was 99 years old. Ben Duckett was abandoned 98 in the second by Jaiswal, who won the win for England with 149. Fielding was also too relaxed. There was a case where the hosts needed 80 years, and Shardul slipped during the field, did not get up in time, while the strikers stole three. If a bad alignment, coupled with poor attraction, certainly gives India an ordinary appearance.

Ineffective tail

We are not talking about versatile, but pure quisons, around the world, can just drag a little and mark valuable races for the team. This aspect is missing with the Indian team. Bumrah, Siraj, and take Prasidh Krishna for the moment – are all poor strikers, who simply do not seem to add runs.

Look at teams like Australia. Pat Cummins is on average 17 with the bat, Starc 20.50, Hazlewood 12 and Lyon 12. This side of current England, Woakes on average 26, Corse 19.33, Josh Tongue 10 and ShoaiB Bashir 7. So, another gap that must be filled.

The versatile dilemma

Shardul Thakur is not a versatile and we tried to play it as one. Consequently, he failed with the bat twice and did not give enough overs to play. India seriously does not have a decent and accelerated versatile. Nitish Kumar Reddy was impressive with the bat in Australia, but overturned much less and simply was not effective.

The only effective player was ravaged Jadeja, who scored 1103 points at an average of 29 and picked up 57 counters in 28 games. India needs more quality players like that. And if we support, we have tastes of Axar Patel, Tanush Kotian and Washington Sundar, these guys must have opportunities.

Lack of confidence in national players?

Is management a little uncertain to try domestic artists? At least this seems to be the case. Yes, Karun Nair returned after 8 years, and Sai Sudharsan had a chance early enough, but what about players who have played Ranji so well over the years. There is a certain Sarfaraz Khan, who was abandoned without trying in Australia. Then Abhimhanyu Easwaran, who is chosen in the team, but is only a reserve.

No team stability

There seems to be a need to simply replace the players after a bad match. There have been too many new players who have entered, and some of them have already disappeared. Since 2023-233, up to 9 players have made their debut and some of them have already disappeared from the scene.

Sarfaraz Khan is abandoned, Rajat Patidar is not in the configuration. Then, if we return later, Mukesh Kumar has disappeared, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav and Ks Bharat seem outdated. There must therefore be a certain stability.