By: Tejasvi Pandey, Tarunima Singh
NEW DELHI: India’s team selection strategy has come under heavy fire, with critics and former cricketers lambasting the management for frequent and often inexplicable changes. Mohammed Shami, a senior fast bowler and proven match-winner, was dropped without clear explanation. Shreyas Iyer has also found himself sidelined, sparking outrage among fans and former players alike. A viral meme has sarcastically welcomed the “Gautam Gambhir era,” alleging that he has “forced” veterans like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin into early retirements. While exaggerated, the sentiment reflects the growing unease over Gambhir’s high-risk, high-churn philosophy.
Former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu summed it up sharply, stating:
“In the third match, Bumrah returns and Prasidh Krishna is dropped. In the fourth match, Akash Deep gets injured and Anshul Kamboj is brought in. What is going on? Have you ever seen this many changes?”
With seven different bowlers used across four Tests, the team lacks rhythm and synergy—key ingredients for success in the longest format.
Captaincy Under the Scanner: Shubman Gill’s Learning Curve
While Shubman Gill has sparkled with the bat—scoring 621 runs at an average of 88.71, including three centuries—his tactical captaincy has raised alarm bells. In the fourth Test, India delayed using off-spinner Washington Sundar until the 69th over of England’s innings, allowing Joe Root and Ben Stokes to pile on 150 and 141 runs, respectively. Additionally, Gill has made questionable review calls, sometimes ignoring inputs from senior players like KL Rahul.
Sanjay Manjrekar didn’t hold back in his assessment:
“It’s a red flag. Gill’s captaincy lacks clarity under pressure, and that can cost India dearly.”
Though Gill’s leadership is still in its infancy, the errors in judgment during crucial moments suggest he may be overwhelmed by the dual responsibility of captaining and leading the batting charge.
The Gautam Gambhir Era: Bold but Divisive
Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as head coach has been marked by bold, ruthless decisions that have polarized opinions. His Test record—4 wins, 8 losses, 1 draw from 13 matches—reflects the inconsistency that plagues the team. India’s Test ranking has slipped from No.1 to No.4 during his brief tenure, and there is growing discontent over his tactical rigidity and preference for all-rounders over specialists.
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Former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary voiced concerns:
“Test match is a game of specialists but we’re keeping them out and trusting all-rounders more.”
The perception that Gambhir is engineering a rapid generational shift—possibly at the expense of proven performers—is feeding discontent among fans and pundits alike.
Injury Management and Fitness Chaos
India’s campaign has also been severely hindered by a spate of injuries. Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, and Akash Deep are all nursing injuries, while Rishabh Pant continues to bat heroically despite a fractured foot. The lack of a robust injury management protocol has forced the team into reactive selections, further destabilizing the playing XI.
Even Jasprit Bumrah, India’s spearhead, is under scrutiny. Though he’s taken 12 wickets at an average of 21.0, his declining pace and limited workload (only three Tests planned) have sparked concerns about his long-term viability in Test cricket.
Bowling Ineffectiveness: One-Man Army
India’s bowling has lacked bite, especially in English conditions. Bumrah continues to carry the burden alone, while Mohammed Siraj—despite leading with 13 wickets—shows visible fatigue. The inability to penetrate on flat pitches or finish off tailenders has cost India repeatedly. The exclusion of Kuldeep Yadav, a proven match-winner on spin-friendly tracks, and the delayed use of Washington Sundar reflect baffling tactical decisions.
Tactical Confusion and Role Uncertainty
India’s playing XI has seen constant reshuffling—new openers, middle-order switches, and revolving-door bowlers—leading to confusion and a lack of defined roles. Players have not been given the stability or clarity needed to perform consistently. Gill, for all his personal success, has struggled to extract the best out of his team strategically.
Bright Spots: Gill and Pant Shine Amid Chaos
Amid the gloom, Gill and Pant have emerged as India’s twin pillars. Gill’s 269 in the second Test is the highest score by an Indian Test captain, while Pant’s 479 runs at 68.43—despite injury—are a testament to his grit. KL Rahul, too, has offered stability, scoring 422 runs at 60.29 and guiding younger players with his experience.
REASON FOR THE DECLINE
Poor Fielding and Catching
India’s Test cricket team is showing visible signs of structural decline, with persistent flaws that are becoming hard to mask, especially in high-stakes series. A glaring issue has been the team’s poor fielding and catching—once considered a hallmark of top-tier sides. In a recent Test against England, key chances were squandered as Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ravindra Jadeja dropped multiple straightforward catches. These lapses allowed opposition batters to settle in and pile on runs, turning manageable targets into uphill battles. Casual fielding and an overall lack of urgency in the outfield have further contributed to conceding unnecessary runs, eroding the pressure built by bowlers.
Inconsistent Batting under Pressure
Batting collapses under pressure have become another recurring problem. While India possesses batsmen capable of crafting centuries, the team often fails to convert strong starts into match-winning totals. This inconsistency is most evident during crunch situations, where the middle and lower order regularly crumbles, unable to support set batsmen. The inability to chase modest totals or build second-innings resilience has cost India several matches, especially overseas. These collapses hint at not just technical weaknesses, but also a lack of temperament and mental fortitude under pressure.
Unsettled Opening Pair and Middle Order:
The instability in the top order is equally alarming. India continues to tinker with its opening pair, unable to find a reliable long-term combination. This lack of continuity hampers rhythm and puts additional pressure on the middle order, which is already showing signs of wear. Stalwarts like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who once formed the backbone of the batting lineup, appear to be on the decline, both in terms of form and impact. With few young batters stepping up consistently, the transition from one generation to the next remains incomplete and wobbly.
Bowling Lacks Consistency Beyond Bumrah:
On the bowling front, India’s overdependence on Jasprit Bumrah is reaching unsustainable levels. Bumrah continues to deliver world-class performances, but the supporting cast—comprising both seamers and spinners—lacks the consistency to complement his efforts. In particular, the team has repeatedly failed to bowl out oppositions in the second innings, allowing tail-enders to drag innings far beyond expectations. This inability to finish games is not just a tactical failure but reflects deeper shortcomings in planning and execution.
Team Balance and Depth:
The team’s composition also suffers from a lack of balance and depth. Injuries to key players frequently expose a thin bench, where replacements struggle to match the standards required at the Test level. The absence of a high-quality left-arm pacer continues to hurt the team’s variety, especially in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) conditions. Moreover, team selection often appears reactive rather than strategic, leading to mismatched squads for different conditions.
Leadership Instability:
Perhaps most damaging of all is the instability in leadership. Frequent changes in captaincy—driven by injury, rotation, or tactical shifts—have created confusion within the dressing room. Batting roles are unclear, and strategic execution suffers due to a lack of cohesive vision. Leadership is supposed to offer clarity and direction, but India’s rotating cast of captains has only magnified the chaos. Until a firm hand and a stable core are established, the team risks further decline in the longest and most demanding format of the game.
