3 Biggest concerns for Team India in 2026

The Indian cricket team enjoyed a highly successful 2025, winning the ICC Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup, levelling the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2-2 in England, and continuing their dominance in white-ball

cricket. However, despite these achievements, a few glaring issues emerged over the year that raised concerns among fans and experts alike.

As the cricketing fever heads into a crucial 2026 season, with a plethora of mouthwatering events lined up, CricTracker has delved deep into the concerns that India will carry and look to improve in the upcoming calendar year.

Here are three biggest concerns for Team India in 2026

Test setup needs a revamp

India’s Test side endured a mixed year and struggled for consistency in red-ball cricket. The team suffered a disappointing loss in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and were later whitewashed 2-0 by South Africa. While India managed to level the Test series against England and secure a series win against West Indies, their performances against big teams exposed their vulnerabilities.

With the previous World Test Championship cycle concluding and a relatively younger squad being introduced, India showed promise early on but failed to sustain momentum against quality opposition like South Africa. Looking ahead, India face demanding Test assignments against Sri Lanka, Australia, and New Zealand in 2026. To remain competitive in the current WTC cycle, the team must address issues such as playing high-quality spin and building the temperament to bat long hours.

India's ODI bowling needs sorting ahead of 2027 ODI World Cup

On paper, India’s ODI bowling attack appears formidable, boasting the experience of Jasprit Bumrah alongside options like Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, and all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar. However, recent performances have highlighted inconsistencies.

India conceded heavy runs during 50-over series in Australia and South Africa, raising questions about their death-over execution and adaptability in overseas conditions. With the 2027 ODI World Cup on the horizon, India must identify a settled bowling combination and refine their strategies to control run flow and take wickets in crucial phases.

Who is scoring runs apart from Rohit-Kohli in ODIs?

Another pressing concern lies in India’s ODI batting depth. The run-scoring burden has largely rested on veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who have been the team’s standout performers over the past year. KL Rahul has contributed in the middle order, but consistent support from the rest of the line-up has been lacking.

Frequent experimentation with players like Ruturaj Gaikwad and Yashasvi Jaiswal has yet to yield stability. Additionally, Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer must shoulder greater responsibility in anchoring the batting setup. For the Men in Blue to mount a strong challenge at the next marquee event, a more reliable and settled batting core beyond Rohit and Kohli is essential.