Indian cricket is going through a phase where familiar faces are suddenly missing and the shift has been tough to ignore. The Test team, once anchored by some of the finest modern batters, now finds itself trying to rediscover balance after several major departures in quick succession.
Anil Kumble, who has seen Indian cricket from every angle – as a player, captain and coach, shared his concerns about how the team has been affected by the retirements of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara. He also pointed to Ajinkya Rahane’s absence and Shubman Gill’s injury, which kept the young captain out of the current series. To him, these changes have shaken the foundation of India’s once-stable top order.
Anil Kumble emphasised that the batting lineup has been in constant flux for the last few years. With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma stepping away from Test cricket in May, Cheteshwar Pujara retiring in August and Ajinkya Rahane out since mid-2023, India has lost nearly an entire generation of reliable top-order batters. Shubman Gill’s neck injury only deepened the void, not just in leadership but in pure batting strength.
Speaking on a show, Anil Kumble explained that when four of the five batters who once formed the backbone of the Test team either retire or stop being selected, the ripple effect is significant. He added that India missed the presence of Shubman Gill just as much for his skills with the bat as for his role as captain.
Anil Kumble believes that frequent changes in the lineup prevent players from settling into their roles. Without continuity, even talented batters struggle to find rhythm and confidence. Looking back at the past dozen Tests, he noted how often the top-order combination has shifted, making it hard for anyone to feel secure.
He acknowledged that every player has off days but insisted that the team must back its chosen batters over a stretch of games to allow them to grow. The constant turnover, he said, has been unsettling and it shows on the field.
In the end, Anil Kumble expressed disappointment not in the players themselves but in the circumstances that have disrupted the structure of India’s Test side. With so much change happening so quickly, the team now faces the challenge of rebuilding its identity from the top.
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