Team India drop to No. 4 in ICC Test Rankings: What’s causing the slide and how can they bounce back?
Not so long ago, Team India were the world-beaters in all formats of the game. In September 2023, they moved to the No 1 rankings in all formats. Two years later, while the team has maintained their No 1 rankings in ODIs and T20Is winning two limited-overs ICC titles, they have slid down to No 4 in Test cricket currently.
Their demotion in Test cricket has come despite being runners-up twice in the first two editions of the World Test Championships. Their downfall in Test cricket started from the 0-3 home series loss to New Zealand, followed by 1-3 loss to Australia Down Under, and currently trailing 1-2 in the five-match Test series in England.
Decoding India’s Test slip
It cannot be denied that IPL has been India’s biggest cash cow. IPL contributed 59% of BCCI’s total revenue in the financial year 2023-24. According to a report by branding and ad giant Rediffusion, BCCI earned a revenue of Rs ₹9,741.7 crore in 2023-24. IPL itself generated revenue of Rs ₹5,761 crore out of the total revenue.
Considering the money generated from IPL, this cash-rich event is here to stay, and will continue to attract sponsors, star players, and big corporates to the league. IPL gives India an edge over other cricketing boards in the cricketing world, and if India cricket prospers due to the IPL, so be it.
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Is IPL to blame for India’s Test downfall?
First, let’s have a look at India’s performance across all formats under head coach Gautam Gambhir since his appointment in July 2024.
Team India have maintained a success percentage of over 75 in both ODIs and T20Is, and also winning the 2025 Champions Trophy. However, the success percentage falls to 30 in Tests. Hence, a coach successful in limited-overs format is not able to replicate the same in Tests.
Do India lack the required support staff to coach them for Test cricket, which demands specialised coaching skills? Do Gambhir and his support staff lack in skills – both tactical and mental – to coach India in the five-day format? These are questions in all Indian minds at the moment.
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Coaching challenge in Test cricket
Coaching a team in Test cricket compared to the limited-overs format could be as different as chalk and cheese. Test cricket presents a unique set of challenges compared to the other two formats. Just as how a cricketer is tested in the five-day format, a coach and his staff are examined in the longest version of the game.
It could be concluded that Gautam Gambhir’s coaching has not been able to live up to the expectations and produce the same success in Tests compared the limited-overs format. Gambhir has made changes to his staff, but India’s result in Test cricket has been in similar lines, disappointing.
Should India go for separate coaching staff for Tests and limited-overs format? It’s a good suggestion, as this will help the two separate coaching staff focus on one format at a time, and give their absolute best in bringing the best out of the team. A different strategy, team ethics, squad, and a different coaching staff could be what India need to overcome the various challenges of the Tests and limited-overs format.
Pitch troubles
India’s Test team has struggled both at home and overseas. They lost to New Zealand 0-3 at home, and got beaten 1-3 by Australia Down Under. It could be argued that India’s pitches have not helped the home team as spinners have not been able to run through the opposition unlike previous home series.
It has not turned enough from day 1 itself for India’s spinners to make merry. The pitches have been flat and turning only from the fourth or fifth day. And hence, New Zealand were able to counter India’s spinners better on these pitches and hand India a rare 0-3 home series loss. Besides, India’s batters were exposed on the fast and bouncy pitches in Australia as they don’t have these conditions back home to be better prepared for the challenges Down Under.
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Countering pitch problems
Hence, the challenge for the BCCI is to prepare pitches keeping India’s advantages in consideration as all home teams would like to play to their strengths. Also, Team India should be given the required training on pitches that would be on offer in SENA countries so that they don’t end up failing there.
If India take care of the pitches, play to their strengths at home, while getting their players trained for juicer pitches away, it would make them a formidable team in all fronts as both batters and bowlers would benefit from this strategy. Keeping some centres for spin, while others for pacers would bring the normalcy required to bring this strategy to fruition.
Creating reserve bench of players
The sudden retirement of players such as R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli left a gaping hole in India’s Test cricket. The lack of planning to groom young talent while these stalwarts were still in their prime has left India in a precarious situation.
Nevertheless, India, who are in transition, have to quickly mend ways and find suitable replacements for these legends, and give those players enough time to grow in their roles, and serve Indian cricket for long.
But another challenge awaits India as they haven’t created a large pool of Test players to fall back on. The popularity of IPL saw a growth of hard-hitting batters who can destroy any attack on their day. But are these players ready to grind it out in Test cricket?
BCCI needs to change their mindset
Ultimately, BCCI’s mindset needs a change to move from focus on cash-rich IPL to building a core of players who will be ready to take up Test batting, bowling, keeping on beck and call. BCCI needs to take initiatives to make a pool of players who will keep Test cricket at its pedestal, groom them, give them the enough opportunity to grow in this format, and also reward them handsomely for doing well in this format. BCCI could make playing in First-Class cricket rewarding if not more than plying one services in IPL. There should be enough exposure and recognition for players doing well in domestic First-Class cricket, rather than on players focussing on quick success in IPL to gain fame and recognition.
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