Former wicket-keeper Deep Dasgupta has unconventionally suggested that Team India are better off shifting their focus from the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle to streamlining their transition instead. The Shubman Gill-led side’s qualification hopes hang by a thread after their demoralising home series loss to South Africa in late 2025.
Team India have an uphill task lined up ahead in the second half of the 2025-27 cycle in the form of away series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand, followed by a five-match home series against Australia next year. Currently placed fifth in the standings with a win percentage of 48.15, the two-time finalists need to string up a lot of wins to be in the top two.
Deep Dasgupta fears that Team India might go for shortcuts to stay alive in the race for the WTC Final, instead of using the phase to work on their transition and setting a foundation for the next cycle.
“I want to see much more development. Are we improving? Yes, there is inexperience, and it is a transition, but it is important to see the improvement. Infact, I am going to say something that people may not like this, but for the time being, it is better to forget about WTC Final Qualification. It is better not to talk about it. In my opinion, what we should instead focus on is, how to make the Indian Test team like the one in 2020-21, like that phase where India were winning overseas and winning home series as well,” Deep Dasgupta explained his reasoning on his YouTube channel.
“If you keep thinking about the WTC Final, then you might be looking to take shortcuts. You will just look to figure out ways to win that particular match or series. It is important, don’t get me wrong, but somewhere or the other, you can also look at it from another way. We can think about how we can dominate the next WTC cycle instead. So, either we can walk now with a band-aid, or we can look to get some stitches and get some rest, and give our best with 100 percent fitness,” he continued.
Team India’s WTC fate hinges on their next assignment itself, a two-match Test series in Sri Lanka, scheduled to begin on August 15. The series opener will be held at the Galle International Stadium, a venue which has witnessed both of India’s Test losses in the island nation since 2010.
“That pressure will be there” – Deep Dasgupta on the importance of SL vs IND 2026 Tests for Gautam Gambhir and Shubman Gill
Deep Dasgupta noted that the head coach-captain duo of Gautam Gambhir and Shubman Gill will be under a lot of pressure, especially if the team falters in Sri Lanka. The red-ball setup had begun on a promising note with a brave series draw in England against the odds, but the series loss against South Africa raised some serious questions.
“If the team does not do well, questions will be raised against him. Everyone in the team will be questioned because we have started to lose home series after a long time now, so that pressure will be there. But all of these names know how to handle pressure and play under pressure. When there is a transition, you need to know in which direction it is heading. It began with the England series, but I am a little confused about which direction we are heading?” he said.
Team India will feature in a three-day warm-up match, starting from August 7 onwards, while the contingent is set to depart from Mumbai on August 4.
Edited by Gokul Nair