Rahul Dravid Reveals Why India's Test Cricket Has Declined
Rahul Dravid explains India's Test struggles due to lack of red-ball practice amid packed multi-format schedules.
The Indian cricket team’s performance in Test cricket has witnessed a noticeable decline over the past year, raising serious concerns among fans and experts. Despite dominating the T20I format and remaining unbeaten in series under head coach Gautam Gambhir, India have suffered disappointing Test defeats, including losses at home to New Zealand and South Africa.
Addressing the issue, former India head coach Rahul Dravid spoke candidly about the growing difficulties faced by modern batters in the longest format of the game. Speaking at the launch of The Rise of the Hitman: The Rohit Sharma Story in Bengaluru, Dravid highlighted how constant switching between formats impacts preparation and performance in Test cricket.
Dravid revealed that players often get very limited time to prepare for red-ball cricket. He explained that on several occasions, the team would arrive just three or four days before a Test match, only to realise that some batters had not faced a red ball for four to five months prior to the series.
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The former captain emphasized that Test cricket demands a unique and difficult skill set, particularly on seaming or turning pitches. According to Dravid, spending hours at the crease requires patience, technique, and sustained practice — something that has become increasingly difficult in the current packed international and franchise calendar.
Drawing a comparison with his playing days, Dravid noted that earlier generations had the advantage of extended preparation periods. With only two formats and no franchise leagues, players could spend weeks exclusively training with the red ball, allowing them to sharpen their Test-specific skills.
Dravid also pointed out that current India skipper Shubman Gill has echoed similar concerns. Having played all three formats in quick succession, Gill has acknowledged how challenging it is to mentally and technically adjust to Test cricket, underlining a systemic issue that continues to impact India’s red-ball performances.
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