NEW DELHI: India’s dominance at home, built on the performances of Virat Kohli, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Rohit Sharma, came to an unexpected end as New Zealand secured a 3-0 victory in the Test series. New Zealand became the first team to inflict a 3-0 whitewash on India in India.
This defeat has forced Indian cricket supporters to confront an uncomfortable truth about their ageing heroes potentially nearing retirement.
These four cricketers – Kohli, Rohit, Ashwin and Jadeja – have been instrumental in India’s success, delighting supporters with their performances over many years.
Their contributions have been crucial throughout India’s impressive run, including two World Test Championship finals and a 12-year winning streak in home Test series.
The question of their Test future looms large, particularly for home matches.
With the next home series scheduled for October 2025 against West Indies, the future remains uncertain. Age is a significant factor, with Ashwin at 38, Rohit at 37, Kohli approaching 36, and Jadeja turning 36 in December.
Since England’s 2012 victory, India have played 56 home Tests, winning 42 and losing seven.
In the 23 Tests featuring all four players, India secured 17 victories, drew two matches and lost four – all defeats occurring under Rohit’s leadership.
The recent series saw Jadeja and Ashwin bowling, whilst Kohli and Rohit struggled to score runs.
Kohli accumulated just 93 runs at an average of 15.50 in three matches. 2024 has been challenging for Kohli, with 250 runs from 6 matches at an average of 22.72.
Rohit’s performance has also declined, scoring 91 runs in 3 Tests against New Zealand, averaging 15.17. His 2024 statistics show 588 runs from 11 matches at 29.40.
Ashwin’s Bengaluru Test was disappointing, with inconsistent bowling allowing the New Zealand batsmen to score freely. The 38-year-old spinner has maintained perfect attendance in home Tests since his debut, despite substantial workload.
Against Bangladesh, Ashwin claimed 11 wickets with an economy rate of 3.31. The England series saw him take 26 wickets, though conceding runs at 4.12. In the New Zealand series, he secured 9 wickets with an economy rate of 3.79.
Jadeja remains crucial to India’s cricket setup across all formats. Since 2013, he has participated in 48 of 56 home Tests, missing only eight matches, six after 2021. His Test statistics – averaging 23.76, strike rate of 56.05, and economy rate of 2.51 across 77 matches – demonstrate his significance.
However, 2024 has seen Jadeja’s economy rate rise to 3.30 at home, his highest yearly figure. His economy rates against recent opponents: Bangladesh 3.27, England 3.24, and New Zealand 3.42.
The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy will focus attention on these four senior players.