India and South Africa head to Guwahati on November 22 for the second and final Test of the series. While the hosts aim to draw level after a humbling defeat in Kolkata, the visitors are chasing a milestone not achieved in over 20 years: a clean sweep in India. For Guwahati, this will be a landmark occasion as it prepares to host its first-ever Test match. But for India, this is more than a venue debut. This is a pressure point in their red ball journey – and potentially a turning point in the current World Test Championship cycle.
India in Nine Tests: Cracks in the Foundation
Since October 2024, India have played 14 Tests – three at home against New Zealand, five away in Australia, five in England, and one so far against South Africa. The nine Tests outside the England tour have been particularly sobering.
India have lost seven of those nine matches, winning just once and drawing another. In 17 completed innings, they have failed to cross the 200-run mark on 11 occasions. A team once known for digging in and grinding out sessions has instead folded far too easily. The team’s overall batting average in this stretch has hovered around 21, underlining repeated collapses and a lack of partnerships — especially from the top order.
The England Interlude: Where the Batsmen Breathed
In sharp contrast, the five-Test series in England offered hope and high scoring. The batters collectively scored 3,580 runs at an average close to 40, racking up 12 centuries and eight 300-plus scores in 10 innings. It wasn’t just about stats. It was about the manner in which Indian batters adapted, resisted, and scored with purpose.
The result – a 2–2 series draw — felt like a fair fight. For a batting lineup struggling elsewhere, England was the oasis in an otherwise parched run.
Jadeja and Rahul: A Tale of Two Halves
No two players embodied this contrast more than KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja. In England, both were model professionals. Rahul scored 532 runs at an average of 53.2, including two hundreds and two fifties, while opening the innings with composure and clarity.
Jadeja was outstanding in the middle order. He made 516 runs at an average of over 85, registering five half-centuries and a ton, often absorbing pressure and guiding India out of trouble.
But in the other seven Tests across the New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa series, their numbers plummeted. Rahul scored 328 runs at an average of 25, often falling after starts. Jadeja contributed 285 runs at just 21, a stark four-times dip from his England average.
This wasn’t a tale of form swinging wildly but of two vastly different batting environments — and a recurring inability to adapt outside of English conditions.
The Road Ahead: Where Does India Stand in WTC?
India are far from out of the World Test Championship race. With eight Tests remaining in the subcontinent — where conditions are more familiar — and two in New Zealand, opportunities remain. But margins are thin. India can no longer afford repeat batting failures or let opposition lower orders outlast their bowlers.
Guwahati, as a new host, may just represent a new start. A drawn series would not erase the issues of the past year, but it could steady a ship that has wobbled more than expected.
Image Courtesy: BCCI