India’s recent Test failures in Bengaluru and Pune have exposed a fundamental flaw in their batting approach: a lack of understanding of the grammar of Test match batting. The team’s reliance on white-ball cricket, where explosiveness is prioritized over technique and patience, has left them ill-prepared for the rigors of Test cricket.
The absence of key players from domestic first-class cricket has exacerbated this issue. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the team’s batting stalwarts, have not played a first-class game this season. While their reasons may be genuine, their lack of match practice has hindered their ability to hone their defensive techniques and increase their capacity to bat for extended periods.
This lack of match readiness was evident in India’s batting collapses in Bengaluru and Pune. The team’s inability to read the pitch conditions and adjust their batting strategies accordingly led to their downfall. Rohit Sharma’s incorrect assessment of the Bengaluru pitch and his decision to remove pacers from the game in Pune’s second innings highlighted the team’s tactical deficiencies.
The Indian skipper’s acknowledgment of the team’s batting shortcomings is a positive sign. However, it remains to be seen whether the team can address these issues in time for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under. The troika of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul is expected to provide stability to the batting lineup, but their recent form and manner of dismissals raise concerns.
To their credit, Rohit Sharma and coach Gautam Gambhir have not shied away from acknowledging the team’s shortcomings. They have emphasized the need for patience, technique, and the ability to handle pressure and bat out sessions consistently. This optimism is crucial for India’s chances of success in Australia and qualification for the World Test Championship.
