Failing to bat on home turf, is India truly ready for Border Gavaskar Trophy?

The sorry tale of Indian batting in the ongoing Test series against New Zealand has continued in Pune. With a stunning spell by the surprise entrant, Washington Sundar, India was able to constrict New Zealand to a score of 259 in the first innings. However, coming to bat, it seems like India fell to its own vices as Mitchell Santner razed through the lineup on the “specifically” curated Pune turf. Skipper Rohit Sharma failed, as did Virat Kohli, following the newly noticed pattern of the Indian top-order failing to make a positive impact in a red-ball innings. Shubman Gill, who missed the first Test due to a stiff neck, survived Day 1 but departed as soon as the second day commenced. The poor performance of the batting order at home has raised concerns over their form to endure the Australian attack in the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy.

Indian batters fail twice in the India vs New Zealand Test series

As India called up Washington Sundar to the squad and subsequently to the Playing 11 for the Pune Test, New Zealand named Mitchell Santner to their team in an attempt to counter India’s spin preparation. Both new additions have worked impressively for their respective teams so far in the second India vs New Zealand Test. However, Santner’s seven-wicket haul will haunt India significantly more. Against the Kiwi attack, India failed to counter the score of 259 set by New Zealand in the first innings. Losing 7 wickets for just 53 runs, the spinner wrapped up India’s innings at a meager total of 156, threatening the hosts with another home defeat.

Shubman Gill returned to play in the India vs New Zealand series after registering his fifth Test century during the Bangladesh Tour of India. While he did well to stabilize the Indian innings after Rohit Sharma departed with a nine-ball duck, he could not withstand Santner’s spin threat any further on Day 2. The batter was trapped leg before wicket by the Kiwi spinner at a score of 30 off 72. No one rose to the occasion thereafter, as the likes of Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, and Sarfaraz Khan fell in quick succession. At the turn of lunch, Santner had reduced India to 107 for 7, with Jadeja and Sundar holding together whatever was left of the Indian batting. The remaining matter also disappeared swiftly after lunch as Jadeja, Ashwin, Akash Deep, and Bumrah contributed to Santner’s five-wicket haul.

Border Gavaskar Trophy dream looks far-fetched for the Indian batting line-up

The Indian batting order is struggling on their home turf with a tour to Australia scheduled in the coming days. The form of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli is proving to be the biggest area of concern for the team. While both scored half-centuries against New Zealand in the first Test, sporadic performances across the series can't be relied on as a promise of brilliance in the upcoming matches. Moreover, with the seniors struggling, the tendency of India’s young guns like Gill and Jaiswal to fall at slight opposition threats is a troubling trend.

KL Rahul, despite assurance from head coach Gautam Gambhir, is sitting out of the team during the ongoing match. Sarfaraz Khan also registered a low score, unable to replicate his knock from the first Test, where he scored his maiden Test century in Bengaluru. Heading to Australia, the Indian batting order is not likely to change much. Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, along with captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, are definite candidates to form the batting order in Australia’s den. Thus, it is the form and temperament of these players that need to show up, rather than relying on last-minute prospects for the Border Gavaskar Trophy.

In a bid to prepare a full-strength squad for the Border Gavaskar Trophy, India is already facing a tricky quest of finding the best-suited pace all-rounder for the team. With Mohammed Shami still not fully recovered from his ankle injury, the highlight of India’s Border Gavaskar Trophy campaign lies in the pace line-up. Siraj has not been in top form for a significant time. In fact, the pacer, who made way for Akash Deep in the second India vs New Zealand Test, has taken only 12 wickets across 14 Test innings in 2024. Thus, with only Bumrah appearing as a reliable pacer, the team faces the challenge of sorting out the bowling first for the Australia tour. However, with the team now witnessing an exasperating performance from the batters for the second time in the same home series against New Zealand, it seems like India needs to address more than just the pace order for the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy challenge in Australia.