India’s dominance in Test cricket at home has been a well-established fact for over a decade. But while the spin-bowling prowess of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja is often lauded, there’s a lesser-known story of resilience and determination that’s been equally pivotal in maintaining this stronghold: the lower order’s batting contributions.
The recent India-Bangladesh series saw a classic example. A young and lively Bangladeshi pace attack sent India’s top order tumbling in Chennai. With the score at 144 for 6, the old warhorses, Ashwin and Jadeja, stepped up. They stitched together a mammoth 199-run partnership for the seventh wicket, rescuing India and ultimately paving the way for a resounding 280-run victory.
This wasn’t a one-off occurrence. The lower order has consistently provided vital contributions, ensuring India’s record-breaking home Test success. Since 2013, the duo of Ashwin and Jadeja has been instrumental in 34 wins out of 44 Tests at home, a remarkable win percentage of 77.27.
The lower order’s contribution extends beyond Ashwin and Jadeja. The likes of Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and even youngsters like Dhruv Jurel and Shreyas Iyer have all played vital roles in rescuing India from precarious situations, ensuring the team’s home dominance remains intact.
This lower-order brilliance has come to the fore even more prominently in recent years, coinciding with a period where India has opted for spin-friendly pitches. While the top and middle orders have struggled against the turning ball, the lower order has thrived, often outperforming the specialist batters.
Take the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia as an example. Axar Patel emerged as India’s second-highest run-scorer in the series, averaging an impressive 88. In the series against England, both Jadeja and Axar averaged above 30, outperforming established middle-order batters like Shreyas Iyer and Rajat Patidar.
These aren’t isolated incidents. Over the past few years, the lower-order has consistently provided crucial runs, with Jadeja and Axar featuring among the top run-scorers at home.
The lower order’s resilience isn’t just about individual performances; it’s about a shift in the overall batting dynamic. While the top and middle order have seen a concerning decline in their averages against spin, the lower order has become more adept at handling the turning ball. This shift has been crucial in maintaining India’s dominance at home.
The importance of lower-order contributions has also become evident in India’s team selections. Axar is often preferred over Kuldeep due to his superior batting abilities, while Jadeja’s all-round prowess often makes him a more attractive option than Ashwin in overseas Tests.
India’s success at home has been a testament to the team’s adaptability and its ability to overcome challenges. The lower order’s resilience has been a key factor in this success, proving that contributions can come from anywhere in the batting order. However, as India faces more challenging Tests, the team would do well to address the concerns in the top and middle order to ensure a more balanced and consistent performance.
The lower order may be the unsung heroes, but their contributions are crucial in maintaining India’s home dominance in Test cricket. As the team embarks on a new Test season, their ability to continue delivering crucial runs will be crucial for India’s success.
