Former head coach Rahul Dravid believes that the Indian team has slipped slightly behind in the race to qualify for the World Test Championship final. While the current performances in Sri Lanka are encouraging, the upcoming fixtures will present tough challenges, particularly a challenging tour of New Zealand.
Current Standing and Difficult Fixtures Ahead
Currently positioned fifth in the standings, the two-time finalists find themselves fighting an uphill battle to win their remaining matches and climb up the table in the 2025-2027 World Test Championship. Placed fifth behind Bangladesh, India is scheduled to play two away Tests in New Zealand followed by a five-Test series against Australia at home starting in January 2027. Additionally, India will play five ODIs and as many T20s against New Zealand.
Retaining Momentum and Missing Senior Experience
Speaking to Jiostar, team owner in the European T20 Premier League Rahul Dravid expressed hope that India would make it to the WTC final, calling it a fantastic race if they pull it off. He noted that while they have fallen slightly behind, the sheer quality in the Indian team means they cannot be written off at any stage. India holds a 1-0 lead in the two-match series against Sri Lanka and maintains the upper hand in the second Test following a solid batting display.
Discussing the October tour to New Zealand, Dravid highlighted that the experience of retired seniors like Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara will be missed during the two Tests. He remarked that playing in New Zealand is always a tough challenge, especially for several young Indian boys who lack experience in those conditions. He expressed hope that players stay fit and avoid major injuries in the coming months, noting the absence of experienced campaigners like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, and Cheteshwar Pujara who toured there previously.
Australia Set to Make an Impact
Looking ahead to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in January, Dravid pointed out that the Australian side will be eager to perform well in India. He stated that this is a great generation of outstanding Australian players who have never won in India, making them particularly keen to achieve success.
Patience Needed for Vaibhav Suryavanshi
Dravid also called for a patient approach towards 15-year-old batting prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi, noting that he will need a few seasons of red-ball cricket to establish himself in the longest format. He emphasized that with Vaibhav, one must exercise patience because he is only 15, and based on what he has seen of the youngster, there is no doubt he will earn a spot in the Test team after getting opportunities to practice, play domestic cricket, and complete a few red-ball seasons.
However, Dravid pointed out that finding a place for Suryavanshi in the domestic calendar will be challenging given his packed white-ball commitments with the national team. He questioned whether the youngster would find time to play two full seasons of domestic cricket while being heavily engaged in playing white-ball formats for India. He concluded that while skill-wise there is no issue, executing it due to scheduling constraints might prove slightly more difficult.
