The Indian cricket team has been surprisingly performing well overseas, while struggling on home turf. The team, which boasts a wealth of talent, has lost consecutive home Test series: a 0-2 defeat to South Africa this month and a 0-3 whitewash to New Zealand in 2024, suffering their biggest-ever defeat in terms of runs (by 408 runs) against South Africa.
These are embarrassing defeats, against some fine performances abroad. India won the T20 series against Australia this year, drew a Test series against England after coming very close to winning, drew a Test series against South Africa late last year, and won the T20 World Cup in 2024. We won the Asia Cup and the Champions Trophy this year.
Resilient, full of talent, and strategically deep, Indian cricket has recently come face-to-face with a harsh reality. Two hurtful defeats in home conditions, those that are familiar and favourable, have exposed our vulnerability. The two big losses have put a shadow over Gautam Gambhir’s leadership as a head coach and several other key players.
India, the team which was known for their dominance and an uncanny ability to bounce back from tight situations, turned out to be a complete mess as it succumbed meekly. This poor run is not just about a few bad days; it reveals systemic problems. The team’s failure to change their style and tactics in new situations, especially in Tests away from home, has become repetitive. India’s batting order, which used to be praised for its depth, now seems to have little or no strength to stand against a highly disciplined bowling attack.
The home series under Gambhir’s leadership has, in fact, been the talking point of India’s poor performances and the team’s vulnerabilities. The series was a perfect example of how factors like erratic performances, lack of team spirit, and poor communication can bring down a team. Agreed that one cannot win at all times. But even in losses, teams are celebrated for showing fighting spirit, like the drawn away Test match against England. Even though the team drew that Test, the team celebrated like a win, because the match brought out the true character and fighting spirit, none of which was visible in the home series. Indian batsmen lacked application and failed to score big. To make matters worse, in the absence of veterans like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the young brigade, which is still adapting to Test cricket, crumbled under pressure.
Furthermore, the team management lacked coherent strategies and experimented with constant changes to the playing XI and batting order, which created a lack of stability and confidence. Shuffling across batting orders without sound reason and rhyme will upset momentum. Modern-day cricket, especially when one plays against top teams like Australia, England, or New Zealand, expects players to have mental toughness and adaptability.
The administrators are not without blame either. Due to the BCCI’s emphasis on commercial ventures, franchise leagues, and results that come quickly, it might have been noticed that the aspects of building a balanced and strong-willed team got less attention. Things don’t need to be changed only for the immediate outcomes, but also for the greater and long-term future of Indian cricket; a recalibration is imperative.
India’s recent slump serves as an alarm. Cricket is changing at a high speed, and there are strategies evolving to challenge the old powers. Letting one’s guard down is not an option for India. This squad requires a thorough revamp of strategies, including better methods for discovering potential players, concentrating on mental toughness, and having an outstanding leader who not only motivates unity but also inner strength.
