In the next years, up to four elite match winners are anticipated to leave the game one by one, and Gautam Gambhir is in an enviable position as head coach.
There is uncertainty about India’s chances of making it to the World Test Championship final in June next year. It will be a huge surprise if captain Rohit Sharma remains available for the upcoming two-year WTC cycle.
The same is true for Ravichandran Ashwin, who will be 41 then. The two incredibly fit men, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja will turn 39.
A discussion concerning the efficacy of a few seniors has already been sparked by the humiliating Test series loss against New Zealand at home.
During the commentary, Ravi Shastri sympathized with Gambhir, saying the youthful coach ‘will learn.’
India is undoubtedly facing a difficult adjustment.
In the next years, up to four elite match winners are anticipated to leave the game one by one, and Gautam Gambhir is in an enviable position as head coach.
While there are many batting choices, locating quality bowlers is a big challenge.
Even if he returns, Mohammed Shami’s illustrious 10-year stint for India is ending. Although Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep are both more than respectable bowlers, they need Shami’s intimidating presence at one end when Bumrah is bowling from the other.
The next-in-line bowlers are the true issue. Avesh Khan and Khaleel Ahmed are fast bowlers but require help with consistency and fitness.
Navdeep Saini’s prime is over, and his speed has slowed. Mukesh Kumar, Vyshak Vijaykumar, and Vidwath Kaverappa require the pace that can make batters question their strategy, and Umran Malik has already lost his way.
India’s bowling bench is weak once someone like Mayank Yadav recovers fully and is regularly available for Test cricket. Bumrah is a gift from God, while Shami is a freak skill.
The seam bowling all-rounder position is another one that might be a major worry unless Hardik Pandya, who is currently 30 years old, has a sudden change of heart.
Nitish Reddy is still developing. The “TINA” factor (There Is No Alternative) in this team is why he is on it, according to those who know the situation.
However, things are better for the willow-wielders.
After Rohit leaves the Test stage, there are three contenders: southpaw B Sai Sudharsan, two right-handers Abhimanyu Easwaran and Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has taken over one of the opener’s slots.
With 27 first-class hundreds, an average of almost 50 in 99 red-ball matches, and four hundred in the last four games, Easwaran has the most prolific record, which led to his selection as the series’ reserve opener.
Easwaran has been on the fringes of the India side for at least five years, although he is more of a grafter in the vein of Cheteshwar Pujara.
Easwaran is thought to be ineffective in high-pressure circumstances and important games. His temperament could be better represented by the fact that he has lost three quarterfinals, three semi-finals, and two Ranji trophy finals without scoring a half-century.
One example would be one of his five domestic red ball games this season in which he failed. In the opening match of the Duleep Trophy, the opposing bowling attack featured Khaleel Ahmed, Akash Deep, and Avesh Khan—possibly the strongest trio in the competition.
Although Gaikwad is an excellent white-ball cricket player, his seven first-class hundreds in 35 games are different from what a Test team would be looking for, even though his aggressive style of play might occasionally be effective under certain circumstances.
This leads us to Tamil Nadu’s B Sai Sudharsan, a left-hander with a strong technique, a calm demeanor, and a penchant for long runs. He most recently played for Surrey, a county team. He can bat at number three or as an opener.
Virat Kohli’s place is the next most envied one. Devdutt Padikkal, one of the most fashionable batters in the world and a great half-century on Test debut, is an intriguing choice.
Like Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Rishabh Pant is unlikely to be touched by a keeper-batter in the ensuing ten years.
Although Sarfaraz Khan has made a strong start in the five Test matches thus far, Australia will know if he is the best all-around No. 6 in the lineup.
Axar Patel may be a useful batsman like Jadeja and is an excellent bowler on poorly prepared surfaces. Still, his bowling may be exposed on unhelpful surfaces. Jadeja might play as a pure batter in SENA countries, but Axar’s performance is still being determined.
With 11 wickets, Washington Sundar defeated the contemporary great Ravichandran Ashwin in Pune. As 2021 Brisbane demonstrated, Sundar is a highly useful batter.
Washington might be the only spin-all-rounder in the post-Ashwin-Jadeja era.