Indian batters criticized for skipping domestic cricket as experts call for changes

India’s dismal batting performances in recent Test series have sparked criticism from cricket legends, who are urging players to return to domestic cricket to fix their technical flaws. Former cricketers Sunil Gavaskar and Irfan Pathan have both pointed out that India’s batters are making repeated mistakes due to a lack of match practice in domestic tournaments like the Ranji Trophy.

Sunil Gavaskar, speaking on Star Sports, expressed disappointment over India’s batting struggles in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) and emphasized the importance of domestic cricket in building strong fundamentals. “What I saw were technical deficiencies,” Gavaskar remarked, pointing to India’s poor showings not only in Australia but also during their home series against New Zealand.

Gavaskar criticized senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who failed to deliver in critical moments. He called on the Indian management to take tough decisions if players continue to skip domestic matches. “The next round of the Ranji Trophy starts on January 23. Let’s see how many players from this squad play. If you don’t have the commitment to play those matches, you shouldn’t be part of the Test squad,” he stated.

Irfan Pathan, meanwhile, took specific aim at Virat Kohli’s ongoing slump in form, attributing it to his lack of domestic cricket appearances. Pathan noted that legends like Sachin Tendulkar used to participate in Ranji Trophy matches to stay in touch with red-ball cricket. He questioned why current players are avoiding the same. “When was the last time Virat played domestic cricket?” Pathan asked, adding that even Tendulkar used to play Ranji to spend time on the pitch.

Pathan also criticized Kohli for his repeated dismissals outside the off-stump, especially against Scott Boland, who got him out four times in the BGT series. He urged Kohli to seek advice from experienced figures like Sunil Gavaskar to address his technical flaws. “You are getting out from the same mistake again and again. You need to create a gap between two mistakes,” Pathan remarked.

Both Gavaskar and Pathan emphasized that reputation alone should not guarantee a spot in the Indian team. They stressed the importance of selecting players based on current form and commitment to the team’s cause, not past achievements.

Australia reclaimed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a dominant 3-1 series win, ending India’s decade-long hold on the coveted title. The final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) saw Australia secure a six-wicket victory, sealing their spot in the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord’s.

Earlier, India won the toss and opted to bat first, but their batting woes continued. The top order failed once again, with Virat Kohli falling for 17 after being lured into an outside-off-stump trap by Scott Boland. Skipper Rohit Sharma’s absence from the playing XI only added to India’s struggles.

Rishabh Pant (40 off 98 balls) and Ravindra Jadeja (26 off 95 balls) tried to steady the innings, while Jasprit Bumrah added a quickfire 22 off 17 balls. However, India managed only 185 runs in their first innings. Boland was the pick of the Australian bowlers with figures of 4/31, while Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins chipped in with key wickets.

In response, Australia’s innings also saw regular fall of wickets. India’s bowlers, led by Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, kept the pressure on despite Bumrah walking off the field due to a back injury scare. Debutant Beau Webster top-scored for Australia with 57 runs, helping the team reach 181, giving India a slender four-run lead.

India’s second innings saw a promising start with Yashasvi Jaiswal (22) and KL Rahul (13) putting up a 45-run opening stand. However, Boland continued to haunt the Indian batters, claiming six wickets for 45 runs. Pant provided some resistance with a blazing 61 off 33 balls, but India was bowled out for 157, setting a target of 162 for Australia.

Australia’s chase got off to a shaky start at 58/3, but Usman Khawaja (41), Travis Head (34*), and Beau Webster (39*) guided the team to a comfortable six-wicket victory. Prasidh Krishna’s spirited effort with the ball (3/65) wasn’t enough to prevent Australia from cruising to victory.

Scott Boland, with his 10-wicket haul in the match, was named Player of the Match. Jasprit Bumrah, despite missing a part of the final Test, was awarded Player of the Series for his 32 wickets across the five matches.