Virat Kohli. Cheteshwar Pujara. Rohit Sharma. The ‘holy trinity’ has given Indian followers joyous moments over time however how future prepared is India’s Test batting because the trio is prepared for his or her final dance. The seismic defeat throughout the WTC closing on the Oval made it necessary for the bigwigs to seek for an answer to that query. Now! The failure of Pujara to kick on towards Australia is severely hurting as he was perceived to be in high quality fettle after his exploits with Sussex within the County Cricket. Pujara’s final memorable innings stays that 77 towards Australia in Sydney in 2021, and if we take out a 90 and 102 towards Bangladesh at Chattogram in 2022, the cabinet has a naked look.

In truth, Pujara has performed 17 Tests within the 2021-2023 WTC cycle and made 928 runs at a median of 32 with a solitary hundred, a report so underwhelming for a group’s No. 3.

So, who’s our subsequent No 3? India tried Hanuma Vihari at that place throughout the house collection towards Sri Lanka in early 2022 and he returned with one fifty in 3 innings.

But that plan appeared to have shelved in the intervening time after Pujara returned to the aspect throughout the tour to Bangladesh later that yr. We do not appear to have another choice wherever across the nook in the mean time.

However, India’s headache just isn’t restricted to No. 3 because it trickles right down to No. 4 as effectively, a place that belongs to modern-day nice in Kohli.

Few different batsmen within the final decade have dominated the bowlers with Kohli’s vanity however now simply the facade stays as he struggles to construct these edifices in Test cricket.

He appeared to have discovered his vary in white ball codecs however India want extra of Kohli the Test batsman once they hit the following WTC cycle (2023-25) throughout the tour to the West Indies subsequent month.

In the simply concluded WTC cycle, Kohli made 932 runs from 17 Tests, averaging 32.13 with solitary hundred, a 186 towards Australia earlier this yr at Ahmedabad. But to be truthful, the Ahmedabad observe was one of many flattest featherbeds in recent times.

Kohli’s away common in similar interval dipped to twenty-eight.43 with no hundred.

So, who’s our subsequent No. 4 batter? We can consider Shyreas Iyer, who’s at present injured, to step in for Kohli at some stage however the Mumbaikar nonetheless has to show himself as an all-weather batsman.

Iyer additionally must type out his distaste for short-pitched balls angled into his physique, usually leaving him in tangles however he appears extra of a alternative as No.5 batter.

Sarfaraz Khan had a superb home run final season however the discuss in Indian cricket circles is about his questionable approach towards top quality quick bowling. Anything above medium tempo hasn’t precisely been Sarfaraz’s cup of tea and he’s extra of a home run accumulator.

Also Sarfaraz was given at the very least seven India A Test matches and he failed to attain even 100.

Often Rohit Sharma’s identify is not going to come speeding into your thoughts throughout the discussions about India’s Test batting greats regardless of him showing in 50 matches. But India captain supplied a hit story within the final WTC phase.

Rohit appeared in 11 Tests, amassing 758 runs at 42.11 with two centuries. His away report too has been considerably higher in comparison with the house numbers throughout this era, averaging 52.57 as towards 36.88. But at 36, can he final until 2025? We have Shubman Gill at one finish prepared to hold on the mantle however what about his companion? India appeared to have unearthed an affordable long-term possibility in Mayank Agarwal however he has not performed a Test since he second Test towards Sri Lanka at Bengaluru final yr.

Abhimanyu Easwaran, a technically sound opener, appeared to have ebbed away for now, and the powers that be must watch Yashasvi Jaiswal’s efficiency in home matches.

It’s crucial too as a result of India have necessary excursions arising. India are scheduled to host England in early 2024 earlier than travelling to Australia and England will return in 2025.

The group can’t be left on the crutches as these journeys could have a bearing on India’s WTC ambitions.

These titans are arduous to interchange however India want back-ups/replacements for all these slots. It stays to be seen if the group administration could make some daring calls and impact a rethink?