Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], April 1 (ANI): Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer expressed concern over Team India’s performance ahead of their England tour, which marks the start of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle. He pointed out issues following a disappointing Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign against Australia and hopes the team can “get their act together” for the upcoming series.
In a conversation with Boria Majumdar on Revsportz, Jaffer discussed India’s form, which saw them finish third in the World Test Championship 2023-25 standings. India suffered a 0-3 clean sweep loss against New Zealand at home and a 1-3 defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. Jaffer said, “I am a little worried, without a doubt. After watching India play in Australia, I am a little worried.”
He highlighted concerns about the form of India’s batters and the potential absence of key players, such as Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami, for the upcoming series in England. “What if Jasprit Bumrah is not available in that Test series as well? Or if Mohammad Shami is not available for that matter? What will happen? So, I am definitely worried that Dukes ball, our batters have batted in Australia. If that same trend continues, we will definitely struggle.”
Jaffer stressed that India needs to do much better than they did in Australia, aiming for a series win in England, something the team hasn’t achieved in a long time. “I hope they get their act together. And I hope we win a series, which we have not done for a long time in England.”
India’s last Test series win in England came in 2007 under Rahul Dravid’s captaincy, where they won 1-0. Their most recent series in England, in 2022, ended in a 2-2 draw after India led 2-1 before the rescheduled fifth Test at Edgbaston.
India’s upcoming England tour will begin with the first Test on June 20 at Leeds. However, the absence of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who has been injured since the final BGT Test in Sydney and has not played any cricket since, along with the poor form of senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, has raised concerns.
The 2024-25 Test season was particularly tough for the duo, referred to as “Ro-Ko.” Rohit scored just 164 runs in eight matches and 15 innings at an average of 10.93, while Virat managed a mere 382 runs in 10 matches and 19 innings at an average of 22.87. Both have been struggling for form in recent times, and their disappointing performances continued in the Ranji Trophy.
While Rohit remains India’s most prolific run-scorer in the World Test Championship (2,716 runs in 40 Tests at an average of 41.15), Virat’s Test form has significantly declined since 2020. In 39 Test matches since the start of 2020, Virat has scored 2,028 runs at an average of 30.72, with just three centuries and nine fifties to show.
Jaffer hopes the Indian team will overcome these challenges as they prepare for the England tour and focus on regaining their form and confidence. (ANI)
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