Rahane attributes India’s Test cricket decline to departure of senior players
Former Indian cricketer Ajinkya Rahane has identified the gradual departure of senior players as a key factor in India’s Test cricket struggles over the past two years. Rahane, who recently retired from international cricket, shared his insights on the ‘Stick to Cricket’ podcast, emphasising the need for a core of experienced cricketers in the longer format of the game.
According to Rahane, Test cricket ideally requires seven to eight senior players to provide guidance and stability alongside two to three younger talents. He noted that the current composition of the Indian Test squad features a significant number of new players, with a scarcity of seasoned veterans. This shift, he believes, has contributed to the team’s recent difficulties.
Impact of Senior Player Exodus
The transition in the Indian Test squad became particularly noticeable after the 2023 ICC World Test Championship final, where India faced a loss to Australia. Following this, players like Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara were among the first senior figures to move out of the Test setup. Within approximately six months, other prominent players, including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin, also retired from international cricket in the format.
These retirements coincided with a period of challenging results for India. The team suffered a series whitewash against New Zealand at home in 2024 and a 1-4 loss to Australia away from home in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Reports indicate that Rohit, Virat, and Ashwin experienced a decline in their form during these series, leading to their decision to retire before the commencement of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle. As of August 2026, most of these players have retired from international cricket, with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli continuing to play solely as ODI players.
The impact of these departures is evident in the current team composition. From the batting order that emerged in the 2010s, only KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja remain as senior players. Jadeja is increasingly being considered for a role as a specialist batter rather than an all-rounder. The current core of the Indian batting line-up includes captain Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rishabh Pant. Additionally, younger players such as Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Sarfaraz Khan, Washington Sundar, and Nitish Kumar Reddy are being given opportunities.
Recent Performance and Upcoming Challenges
Beyond the 2024 series against New Zealand and Australia, India experienced further setbacks. In 2025, the team suffered another series whitewash at home, losing 0-2 to South Africa. This marked the first time India had lost a home series to South Africa since the 1999-2000 season. These results have placed India fifth in the World Test Championship standings, making their path to the final increasingly difficult.
Rahane underscored the importance of respecting senior players, stating, “Test cricket needs them. You need to respect the senior players. All the senior players going at once has been the issue.” He highlighted that Test cricket fans are true cricket enthusiasts, and the format thrives on a blend of experience and new talent.
Looking ahead, India faces challenging away tours against Sri Lanka and New Zealand, as well as a home series against Australia. The upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka is scheduled to begin with the first game at the Galle International Cricket Stadium from August 15 to 19. The second Test will take place at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo from August 23 to 27.
The squad for the Test series against Sri Lanka includes Shubman Gill (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sai Sudharsan (subject to fitness clearance), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain, and Auqib Nabi.
Source: m.rediff.com
