The decline of Indian cricket in the longest format has raised serious concerns, especially after the team’s recent setbacks. Australia’s surrender of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), along with a historic whitewash against New Zealand, has highlighted a glaring issue: the lack of red-ball match practice among India’s Test stars.

Numbers don’t lie

• 
  Virat KohliOne of India’s premier batsmen, last played a Ranji Trophy game in 2012.
• 
  Rohit Sharma Has not participated in domestic red ball cricket for nine years.
• In the last four years, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammad SirajAnd KL Rahul Only four domestic longer format games have been played collectively.

This lack of local involvement by India’s Test players has been reflected in their recent performances, which have seen poor shot selection, a drop in bowling rhythm and an apparent lack of Test temperament.

The latest shock

Under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, India lost the BGT at home after a decade and missed out on the final of the World Test Championship. These results have led to calls for a cultural change in Indian cricket to restore its red-ball dominance.

A call for change

Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar Emphasized the importance of domestic cricket for Test players. He called for more participation in the Ranji Trophy, saying, “If you don’t play those matches, we need to question your commitment.”

former player Irfan Pathan This sentiment was echoed, advocating “cultural change” and showing how legends like Sachin Tendulkar Played domestic cricket continuously to be ready for matches.

Symptoms of red-ball rust

The recent BGT loss against Australia showed clear signs of rust among India’s Test players:

• 
  Rishabh Pant Became a victim of an untimely stroke.
• 
  Virat Kohli Repeated spitting at balls outside the off-stump.
• Love the bowlers Mohammad Siraj And Harshit Rana Struggled to maintain rhythm and intensity.
• Batsmen lacked the patience required for long innings, failing to face 100 balls in most of the deciding matches.

Quite the contrary, the players like it Cheteshwar Pujara And Rahul Dravid Has historically absorbed hundreds of balls, anchoring India’s most memorable Test wins.

The IPL conundrum

The attraction of IPL has further contributed to the decline in red-ball cricket participation. Despite the warning of former BCCI secretary Jai Shah About prioritizing domestic cricket, big Test stars have avoided Ranji games without facing sanctions. Meanwhile, mid-level players like it Shreyas Iyer And Ishan Kishan have been penalized by losing their central contracts.

A Way Forward

Domestic cricket is not just a proving ground for upcoming talents; It is an important training ground for experienced Test players. A member of team management noted, “It’s easy to switch from red ball to white ball, but it’s challenging when it’s the other way around. Frequent Ranji games keep the players in rhythm.”

Restoring India’s Test dominance requires more than talent; It demands commitment. A cultural shift towards embracing domestic cricket is essential to rekindle the patience and perseverance required in the longest format.

The responsibility now lies with the players, selectors and the BCCI to ensure that India’s Test cricket does not remain a shadow of its glorious past.