Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma: Why India’s Test cricket is in trouble

India’s next red-ball challenge is a five-Test series in England starting July. England’s conditions, known for dramatic shifts even within a session, will test players’ technique, skills and adaptability to the limit.

India hasn’t won a series in England since 2007, with only two prior victories (1971, 1986), highlighting the daunting task ahead. Adding to the pressure, recent failures against New Zealand and Australia leave selectors grappling with tough decisions on player selection and team combinations for this critical campaign.

The biggest headache for selectors is the form of batting stalwarts Sharma and Kohli after dismal outings in Australia and earlier against New Zealand.

Sharma managed just 31 runs in three Tests in Australia, with his poor form seeing him dropping himself for the final game. Kohli fared slightly better with 190 runs in nine innings, but 100 runs of his total came in one knock. His dismissals followed a pattern – caught in the slips or behind the stumps – pointing to a glaring technical flaw or mental fatigue under pressure.

Since January 2024, Sharma has managed just 619 runs in 16 Tests with one century. Kohli’s numbers are worse over time – averaging 32 in Tests since 2020 with only two centuries.

Once a late-blooming Test opener and blazing match-winner, Sharma now struggles to find his ideal batting position. Meanwhile, Kohli’s surreal decline – after a decade of dominance and swagger- has left cricket’s former titan in an extended slump.