India’s Position in the WTC 2025-27 Cycle
India has dropped to fifth place in the points table for the WTC 2025-27 cycle with a record of 48%. The team’s next Test match is scheduled for August 2026, an away series against Sri Lanka after nearly eight months. Following that, India will host Australia in January 2027, which is almost 13 months away. With nine matches remaining, India needs to win at least six to stay in contention for the WTC 2027 final. Out of these nine games, four will be played away: two against New Zealand and two against Sri Lanka.
Strategies for India’s Recovery in WTC 2025-27
To bounce back in the WTC 2025-27 cycle, BCCI, the selection committee, the Head Coach, and the captain must focus on two critical areas.
Fix the Number Three Conundrum
Since the retirement of Pujara, India has struggled to find a reliable batsman to play at number three in Test matches. Over the last eight Tests, alternatives like Karun Nair, Sai Sudarshan, and Washington Sundar have been tried with limited success. India needs to give a long-term opportunity to a number three player who can serve the team for at least another 10 years, not only on spinning subcontinent pitches but also on bouncy pitches in SENA countries.
Based on domestic and international records, Shubman Gill appears to be the best long-term option for India at number three. This would open up the number four spot for talented players like Padikkal or Sarfaraz Khan, who have shown their ability to score runs in every domestic condition.
Avoid “Bits and Pieces” Players: Focus on Primary Skills
In the series against South Africa, India fielded four all-rounders. Akshar Patel played in the first Test at Kolkata to add batting depth and serve as the fourth spinner on turning pitches. While he performed well with the bat, he couldn’t deliver results with the ball. He was replaced by Nitish Kumar Reddy in the next Test at Guwahati due to Gill’s injury, with Reddy acting as Gill’s right-hand batting replacement. However, Reddy bowled less than 10 overs in the entire match, whereas South Africa’s team played more than 200 overs in both innings. His contribution with the bat in that Test match was minimal.
India should not play more than two all-rounders in the team. Ravindra Jadeja is a certain inclusion when fit, as he has contributed with both bat and ball in recent years. India must be selective in choosing between Washy (a batting all-rounder) and Nitish (a fast bowling all-rounder), depending on the pitch conditions. Rather than playing with three all-rounders, India should prioritize a genuine batsman in the top six to strengthen their batting order. India has a rich pool of domestic batters who have accumulated runs in first-class cricket.
