Lucknow: India finds itself in a precarious position, fighting not just the opposition but also its own inconsistencies. To save this match, the batters must apply themselves with discipline and clarity. They can do it, but given their dismal performances in the last three innings, the challenge appears overwhelmingly steep. With both openers already dismissed early in the second innings, the burden now falls heavily on the middle order. There is no alternative—the batters must display grit, patience, and determination. Anything less, and the result will follow the same disappointing pattern we have grown tired of witnessing.
For nearly a year, India’s batting has oscillated between brilliance and baffling collapse. Except for a spirited series against England, the team has looked fragile and ill-prepared. The 0–3 defeat to New Zealand on spin-friendly tracks was a glaring reminder of how poorly our batters now negotiate spin. The irony is painful: India continues to prepare turning tracks, yet our own players seem increasingly incapable of handling them.
Modern Indian batters appear to prefer flat, batting-paradise surfaces—pitches that resemble concrete slabs—where they can unleash big hits as if it were just another day in the IPL. Their focus has shifted so evidently toward franchise cricket that Test cricket often feels like an obligation rather than a commitment. This mindset is hurting Indian cricket more than any hostile bowling attack ever could.
Whatever steps the BCCI plans to take, one decision seems unavoidable: Gautam Gambhir can no longer continue as head coach. His tenure has been marred by questionable decisions, unnecessary friction, and an alarming decline in batting standards. The aura Indian batters once carried—the reputation of being the world’s finest against spin—has evaporated. Today, on home pitches, they look uncertain, hesitant, and vulnerable.
The way forward is clear. Players must be compelled to return to the Ranji Trophy, to face real red-ball challenges, to rebuild technique and temperament. And curators must be instructed to prepare balanced pitches that encourage complete cricket—not rank turners, not lifeless highways, but surfaces that test skill rather than expose weakness.
If India wishes to salvage this match—and more importantly, salvage its pride in Test cricket—the rebuilding must begin now. The excuses have run out. The patience of the fans is wearing thin. And the future of Indian Test cricket hangs in a delicate balance.
