3 biggest concerns Team India needs to fix in 2026

The Indian cricket team had a highly successful year in 2025. They won the ICC Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup, levelled the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2-2 in England, and continued their dominance in white-ball cricket.

However, despite these achievements, a few major issues emerged during the year. These concerns raised questions among fans and experts.

As the focus shifts to a crucial 2026 season, there are several areas where Team India needs to improve. Here are the three biggest concerns for Team India in 2026:

Also read -10 Bangladeshi cricketers register for PSL 2026, ft. Mustafizur Rahman

1. Inconsistency in India’s Test Cricket Setup

India’s Test team had a mixed year and struggled to find consistency in red-ball cricket. The side suffered a disappointing loss in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and was later whitewashed 2-0 by South Africa. Although India managed to level the Test series against England and win a series against the West Indies, their performances against top teams exposed several weaknesses.

With the previous World Test Championship cycle coming to an end and a younger squad being introduced, India showed early promise but failed to maintain momentum against strong opponents like South Africa. Looking ahead to 2026, India faces tough Test assignments against Sri Lanka, Australia, and New Zealand. To stay competitive in the current WTC cycle, the team must improve their ability to play quality spin and develop the temperament to bat for long periods.

2. ODI Bowling Still a Work in Progress Before 2027 World Cup

On paper, India’s ODI bowling attack looks strong. It includes the experience of Jasprit Bumrah, along with options such as Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, and all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar. However, recent performances have exposed inconsistency.

India conceded heavy runs in the ODI series in Australia and South Africa, raising concerns about their death-over bowling and adaptability in overseas conditions. With the 2027 ODI World Cup approaching, India must settle on a reliable bowling combination and fine-tune their plans to control runs and take wickets at crucial stages.

Also read -38-Year-Old former Ranji Trophy cricketer from Mizoram dies after collapsing on the field during a local match

3. Lack of Reliable Run-Scorers Beyond Rohit and Kohli in ODIs

Another major concern is India’s lack of depth in ODI batting. Most of the run-scoring responsibility has fallen on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who have been the standout performers over the past year. KL Rahul has made useful contributions in the middle order, but consistent support from the rest of the batting line-up has been missing.

Frequent experimentation with players like Ruturaj Gaikwad and Yashasvi Jaiswal has not brought stability. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer need to take more responsibility in anchoring the innings. For India to mount a strong challenge at future marquee tournaments, a settled and dependable batting core beyond Rohit and Kohli is essential.