Anil Kumble Rallies Team India Amidst Shaky WTC Final Prospects: ‘Have to Get Their Act Together’
Former Indian cricketer Anil Kumble has issued a rallying call to Team India, urging them to regroup and focus. "They have to get their act together," Kumble stated, highlighting the need for India to address performance gaps before the upcoming tour of Australia, a decisive part of their WTC campaign.
India’s path to the World Test Championship (WTC) Final took a blow after a surprising series of losses to New Zealand on home soil, raising questions about their chances for a third consecutive WTC final. The unexpected defeats ended India’s 12-year unbeaten record at home and disrupted what many expected would be a straightforward journey to the 2025 WTC final. Rohit Sharma’s side had gone into this Test season with a straightforward objective: to win five matches and secure at least a draw in order to clinch a spot in the title match.
Former Indian cricketer Anil Kumble has issued a rallying call to Team India, urging them to regroup and focus. "They have to get their act together," Kumble stated, highlighting the need for India to address performance gaps before the upcoming tour of Australia, a decisive part of their WTC campaign.
India’s dominance in home Test matches has been largely undisputed since 2012, rarely facing strong challenges aside from Australia and England. Given their impressive record, fans and analysts alike expected India to dominate all five of their scheduled home matches this season. However, their losses to New Zealand—a team that hadn’t won a Test series in India until now—came as a shock to many. New Zealand’s first Test win in Bengaluru ended their 36-year wait for a Test victory on Indian soil, and their follow-up win in Pune sealed their historic series win.
Adding to the challenge, Gautam Gambhir recently took over as head coach, marking his debut series with the team. The dual pressures of a new coaching style and unexpected losses have complicated India’s WTC aspirations. With a challenging five-match series against Australia next, India will need a remarkable turnaround to secure their place in the WTC final.
