How India Can Improve Test Performance: After a tough period in the World Test Championship cycle, particularly against South Africa and earlier New Zealand India have a long break before their next WTC fixture in August 2026. This period affords an important opportunity to rebuild, rethink and reinforce their strengths.
How India Can Improve Test Performance: 5 Steps
1. Move Away from Rank Turners and Focus on Balanced Pitches
A question that has been hanging in the balance for years has recurred: What kind of pitch does India’s strength fit into? Either extreme of sharp turners or roads have not been result-oriented, as seen in the Kolkata and Guwahati Tests.
Though South Africa won, thanks to outstanding individual efforts from Marco Jansen with pace and Simon Harmer with spin, most touring teams seldom have such high-quality attacks. India tend to dominate at home, and pitches that are well-balanced further extend that edge.
Why Balanced Pitches Matter
They support long-term player development through the promotion of solid batting techniques and wicket-taking skills.
They prevent reactionary selection caused by chaotic conditions.
They allow batters to trust their processes, build innings instead of averaging 20 on unpredictable surfaces.
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They ensure that bowlers-whether pacers or spinners-succeed on merit rather than assistance from the pitch.
If India wants stable growth during this transition phase, then balanced surfaces with true bounce are the way forward.
2. Select Allrounders Who Excel in Their Primary Discipline
The current pool of spinning allrounders that India possesses Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar — is multi-dimensional; the role clarity, though, remains a concern.
The Axar Patel Conundrum
Axar Patel’s strengths, as determined in the theory, fit well with the playing conditions of India; however, since 2022 he has played very few RED-BALL cricket matches. When he returned to TEST cricket recently it showed he was rusty; although his performances were tidy, there was a definite lack of wicket-taking ability.
If he does not get more opportunities to play RED-BALL domestic cricket because of his obligations to WHITE-BALL cricket then India will need to reconsider whether or not Axar Patel should play TEST cricket at all.
The Unique Case of Washington Sundar
He is an extraordinarily talented Washington, who can fit into almost any role. He continues to be inconsistent, though, as a frontline offspinner. India might be best served selecting him as a batter who bowls, not a bowler who bats.
Nitish Kumar Reddy’s Development
Nitish has barely bowled and often bats behind the other allrounders. Playing him in home Tests, without giving him meaningful roles, halts his progress. Domestic cricket might be a better platform for his growth right now.
The way to enhance Test performance is by selecting allrounders who firstly meet the primary skill criteria, not just contributing in bits across departments.
3. Invest in Real Red-Ball Spinners, Not Utility Options
Harmer’s masterclass in both Kolkata and Guwahati underlined what India have been missing: spinners who, on any surface, can take wickets rather than merely exploit turners.
The Ashwin-Jadeja Benchmark
Ashwin and Jadeja were automatic picks based on bowling quality alone.
Axar and Washington don’t promise wickets at all on the flatter pitches.
A glance through the India A selections reveals an alarming trend: several of the younger spinners, such as Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian and Manav Suthar, are more batting allrounders than specialist wicket-takers.
The selectors have to be more proactive in spotting and nurturing proper red-ball spinners if India are to be long-term dominants across conditions.
4. Stabilise the Middle Order With Clear Long-Term Picks
The exits of Pujara, Kohli, Rahane and Rohit as an opener have created a vacuum in the Indian Test middle order, with no clear successors having emerged beyond Shubman Gill at No. 4.
The Selection Dilemma
Recent newcomers such as Suryakumar Yadav, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Devdutt Padikkal and B Sai Sudharsan, represent mixed profiles, with Sarfaraz the only one having a first-class average of above 50.
However, the shift away from first-class records has also complicated matters. Performances for India A and perceived potential now weigh much more in selections because:
Dilution of quality in an expanded Ranji Trophy
Influence of T20 leagues pulling young players towards white-ball skills
This has caused situations that are quite unusual, such as:
Washington Sundar batting at No. 3
Dhruv Jurel batting ahead of specialist middle-order options
If the selectors believe that Sudharsan and Padikkal are indeed India’s best long-term middle-order candidates, this is the moment to back them consistently.
Long-Term Structural Solutions
The Ranji Trophy’s credibility – in terms of pitch standards, financial rewards and format – also needs to be lifted to restore its status as the gold standard for red-ball aptitude.
5. Keep Red-Ball Priorities Alive During a Long White-Ball Stretch
The next several months in India will be dominated by white-ball cricket:
Preparing and defending the T20 World Cup
Bilateral ODIs
The IPL
Ranji Trophy’s mid-season break
All formats are overseen by the same coaches and selectors, so it’s easy for red-ball focus to fade. Rebuilding, though, has to start now.
What India Should Do
Make sure the top red-ball players continue to get competitive matches in between Ranji windows. Plan India A tours, particularly immediately after the Ranji final and between IPL and the Sri Lanka series.
Keep long-term goals in view to avoid being underprepared for the crucial Test tour of Sri Lanka, who could be WTC finalists by then. Proactive planning, not reactive fixes, holds the key to India’s red-ball resurgence.
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