Behind home Test slide: Collapsed feeder line, dried up player pool | Cricket News - The Times of India
India’s recent struggles in home Test cricket have raised concerns about the shrinking talent pipeline feeding the national squad. Experts believe the decline is driven by a combination of over-reliance on established players and a weakening domestic structure that once produced a steady flow of red-ball specialists. With the rapid growth of T20 leagues, many young cricketers are prioritizing shorter formats, leaving fewer players prepared for the demands of Test cricket. Inconsistent grooming of emerging talent and limited opportunities for long-format exposure have also contributed to the slide. The team’s dependence on senior players has created gaps whenever injuries or form issues arise, exposing the lack of ready replacements. Selection policies, workload management, and insufficient focus on nurturing future Test prospects have further deepened the challenge. As India faces stronger opponents, rebuilding a solid feeder system has become essential for restoring dominance in the longest form of the game.
The Key points
- India’s home Test performance has declined recently.
- The domestic cricket pipeline is no longer producing enough Test-ready players.
- Young cricketers increasingly prefer T20 formats over red-ball cricket.
- Lack of long-format exposure is hurting player development.
- Heavy reliance on senior players has created depth issues.
- Injuries and form slumps expose gaps in the Test bench strength.
- Selection strategies have not consistently supported emerging talent.
- Workload management limits opportunities for fringe players.
- Domestic competitions need stronger focus on Test skills.
- Rebuilding the feeder system is crucial for long-term success.
Disclaimer: This preview includes title, image, and description automatically sourced from the original website (timesofindia.indiatimes.com) using publicly available metadata / OG tags. All rights, including copyright and content ownership, remain with the original publisher. If you are the content owner and wish to request removal, please contact us from your official email to no_reply@newspaperhunt.com.
