Is time ripe for Indian cricket to move past Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma

Dubai: Under the Sydney floodlights, Australia roared back to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a commanding six-wicket win in the series decider. The victory sealed their place in the World Test Championship final, leaving India grappling with critical questions after a campaign marred by injuries, misfires, and missed opportunities.

In a series balanced on a knife’s edge, Australia’s fearsome bowling attack proved decisive, relentlessly pressuring Indian batters as a unified force. India, in contrast, leant heavily on Jasprit Bumrah to deliver breakthroughs. When a back spasm sidelined the Player of the Series during Australia’s final innings, the Indian attack faltered, conceding runs at over six an over on a treacherous Sydney pitch. The stark difference in intensity underscored India’s over-reliance on Bumrah, with Mohammed Siraj struggling to lead the attack in his absence. Meanwhile, Australia’s Scott Boland stepped up admirably, embodying the depth and resilience of the hosts’ bowling unit.

Untimely injuries to pacers proved costly for India. Mohammed Shami, the star performer in India’s previous tour Down Under, was unavailable, while Akash Deep, who impressed in Melbourne, missed the final Test. Prasidh Krishna, his replacement, showcased his potential with three wickets in the second innings, adding to his two in the first.

The Indian cricket has been on a tailspin since the Men in Blue won their second Twenty20 World Cup in October last year. The newly appointed coach Gautam Gambhir put up a brave face while addressing the media in Sydney on Sunday, but he will face scrutiny for the team’s lacklustre performance after having lost third straight series since he took charge.

The Indian selection committee faces scrutiny for its choices in the final Test. Opting for two spinners on a green-top wicket appeared puzzling, especially as Washington Sundar bowled just one over in 88. A batter in Sundar’s place could have strengthened India’s misfiring top order.

The batting line-up continues to be a concern. Calls to move past skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in favour of younger talent like Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant have grown. However, the series highlighted the challenges of relying on youth, with inconsistent performances across the board.

Rohit, who stepped down as captain for the Sydney Test, clarified that his decision to sit out was in the team’s best interest, denying retirement rumours. Meanwhile, Bumrah, hailed as a natural leader, carried the team’s weight despite recurring injuries. Concerns linger over whether captaincy duties could exacerbate his injury-prone career.

Australian pitches offer the toughest test to a player’s career and those who excel Down Under turn into legends. Playing in his first series in 2012, Kohli had a century and a 75 in a team that had Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag and VVS Laxman. But during his next trip in 2014, when the team didn’t have any of these legends, Kohli led India’s charge, scoring four centuries. From that high, the Indian talisman has fallen to a great depths, scoring just 192 runs in nine innings with a highest of 100 not out in Perth.

Gambhir has put the ball in Rohit Sharma and Kohli’s court, saying it is up to these two to decide the best course of action for Indian cricket. Rohit Sharma, on Saturday, ended his silence on his decision not to play and clarified that he has just taken a break in the best interest of the team and is not retiring from the game.

Despite the series loss, positives emerged. Jaiswal displayed resilience under pressure, and Rishabh Pant and all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy showed promise.

With the Champions Trophy in Dubai approaching in February, the Indian team has a chance to regroup and regain confidence before their next Test series against England in June.