The rapid drop in the performance of India in the Test cricket has become more pronounced in the last year. The Indian Test team, which was once considered as one of the most formidable touring teams in the globe, has been unable to stamp their authority even in their own territory. India inflicted a historic defeat on herself in October 2024, when they lost a Test series in India, the first time in 12 years, against New Zealand, 03. This was to be complemented by the other blow this year with South Africa beating India by 2 goals to 0.
Under these unflattering performance, head coach Gautam Gambhir has become the main receiver of criticism. As the team passes through a transitional period, Gambhir has constantly come to the defense of his team, but people have increasingly heaped the blame of the problems facing India on his head. But ex-fast bowler of India Munaf Patel has oppositely opposed this story.
In a podcast on YouTube called Breaking Sports with Vivek Sethia, Patel claimed that it was the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) to blame, rather than the head coach. He has extolled the individual cricketing mentality and leadership qualifications of Gambhir saying that Gambhir has won big titles as a player as well as a captain. Another issue Patel raised is the lack of experience in the current Test squad, with the group of players who are touring England having less than 100 Test appearances.
Patel also attributed the problems back home in India to the incapacity of the batters to play spin. By requiring too much grass to be covered, he accused the BCCI of manipulating domestic conditions of pitch, through which spinners have been assisted less. Although India still perform well in T20Is and have average results in the ODIs, the largest issue is that in the case of Test cricket, it is ranked as the sixth team in the 2025-27 cycle of the World Test Championship.
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