Transition phase, finding balance challenge for India

S the third umpire's decision OUT was displayed on the giant screen at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Monday evening for one last time, the stadium erupted bringing close to what had been a rollercoaster year for Indian cricket.

The men's team went down for the sixth time in the longest format in 2024.

Their performance summed up the underlying issues of a transitioning team that were masked more often than not while playing at home.

Indian cricket is at a tipping point or at least as close as they have ever been to one, especially in the longest format.

For the first time in 12 years, India lost a Test series at home, a 0-3 clean sweep to New Zealand for the first time ever on home soil.

In the middle of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, one of the titans of the longest format and one of the chief architects of India's Test dominance in the past decade, R Ashwin, hung his boots.

Not all was bad in 2024 though.

The highest point for Indian cricket came on June 29, 2024, in Barbados, when Rohit Sharma led the country to their first ICC title in over ten years.

That also ensured the old guard bid adieu and the next generation took over the shortest format.

For Sharma and India, however, things have just gone downhill since as they conceded a 1-2 lead to Australia in Melbourne.

However, when the sun dawns for the first time in 2025 it gives them a chance to turn the page; to start afresh.

For there is a lot to look forward to.

First up, there is a series to be levelled in Sydney.

They still can make it to the World Test Championship Final.

But the tougher challenges lie ahead.

Then comes the Champions Trophy.

A five Test tour to England followed by another home season.

As things stand, one cannot be very sure if the Test team will look the same when they leave for England in June.