India’s grueling home Test season has finally come to an end with some worrying signs that are immediately linked to the future of Gautam Gambhir’s shaky start to his reign as head coach. The transition phase that supposedly began when Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara were slowly weeded out of the Test set-up has begun to show its effect as young blood continues to infuse the team. Even though the bowlers have had their share of woes but have still managed to thrive in patches throughout the home season, India’s weak batting department has been exposed by some of the more inexperienced overseas spinners. India’s historic series against New Zealand on Sunday was a stark reminder of the slowly fading art of playing against spinners.

As the road to the World Test Championship final has become a walk in the rain instead of sunshine and flowers, one major question is still open, waiting to be addressed.

The declining form of stalwarts Virat Kohli and skipper Rohit Sharma weeks ahead of the enduring Test series against Australia has been a cause for concern for the modern Test giants.

Virat and Rohit’s home Test season has been a story full of moments of brilliance but overshadowed by the weight of the low string of results.

India recently hosted Bangladesh and New Zealand, which have consistently been touted as warm-up series for Australia.

India whitewashed Bangladesh only to be found on the receiving end against New Zealand.

In these five Tests, Rohit could muster just 133 runs at an average of just 13.30 with a half-century in 10 innings. His best score stood out to be 52. Rohit’s run of scores this season at home: 6, 5, 23, 8, 2, 52, 0, 8, 18 and 11.

Overall in Tests this year, Rohit has scored 588 runs in 11 Tests and 21 innings at a subpar average of 29.40 with two centuries, two fifties and a best score of 131.

His batting average in Tests touched his lowest in a calendar year since he started opening in the format in 2019.

In the 2023–25 ICC World Test Championship, Rohit amassed 833 runs in 14 Tests at an average of 33.32 with three centuries and four fifties in 26 innings.

On the other hand, Virat’s numbers are not encouraging to the viewers. His troubles worsened with the passage of time.

In five Tests, Kohli could only manage 192 runs in 10 innings at an average of 21.33 with just one fifty and a best score of 70. His scores this season at home are: 6, 17. 47, 29*, 0, 70, 1, 17, 4 and 1.

In 2024, Virat scored just 250 runs in 12 Test innings in six matches at an average of 22.72, with just one half-century and a best score of 70.

In the ongoing 2023-25 ​​WTC cycle, Virat has scored 561 runs in nine Tests and 16 innings at an average of 37.40, with one century and three fifties with 121 as his best score.

With Rohit’s participation in the BGT’s opening Test remaining uncertain, India’s task of securing victory in Perth could become a tougher affair.