India should shorten IPL and play more Test cricket

[Ball Blazer]

India should play more Test cricket because their recent inconsistent red-ball results show a clear need for longer-format development, deeper bench strength, and sustained overseas competitiveness that only Tests can provide. With the IPL now occupying a two-month-plus window, excessive focus on franchise cricket risks further weakening India’s Test standards by prioritising short-term T20 skills over long-term technical growth.​

(Only cricket-related discussion, no cross-border, political or hate comments will be welcomed)​

India’s Test Series Breakdown (Last 16 Series)​

List of Results

• 2021 – vs New Zealand (England): Lost 0–1
• 2021/22 – New Zealand in India: Won 1–0
• 2021/22 – in South Africa: Lost 1–2
• 2021/22 – Sri Lanka in India: Won 2–0
• 2021–2022 – in England (Pataudi Trophy): Drawn 2–2
• 2022/23 – in Bangladesh: Won 2–0
• 2022/23 – Australia in India: Won 2–1
• 2023 – in West Indies: Won 1–0
• 2023/24 – in South Africa: Drawn 1–1
• 2023/24 – England in India: Won 4–1
• 2024/25 – Bangladesh in India: Won 2–0
• 2024/25 – New Zealand in India: Lost 0–3
• 2024/25 – in Australia: Lost 1–3
• 2025 – in England: Drawn 2–2
• 2025/26 – West Indies in India: Won 2–0
• 2025/26 – South Africa in India: Lost 0–2

Source: Cricinfo

Verified Patterns​

India vs South Africa → Mostly Losses​

Your suspicion is correct:

• Lost in 2021/22 (1–2)
• Drew in 2023/24 (1–1)
• Lost in 2025/26 (0–2)
  Result: Out of three Freedom Trophy cycles, India lost two and failed to win any.

India vs Bangladesh → Clean Sweep (Underdog Opponent)​

India defeated Bangladesh twice, both by 2–0:

• 2022/23 (away) – 2–0
• 2024/25 (home) – 2–0

India vs West Indies → Fully Dominant (But Again an Underdog Opponent)​

India beat West Indies twice:

• 2023 (away) – 1–0
• 2025/26 (home) – 2–0

One Standout High Point – 4–1 vs England (2023/24)​

The 4–1 home win over England was India’s best result across these 16 series, a rare dominant performance in a period marked by fluctuating form.

Overall Assessment – A Period of Inconsistent & Often Poor Test Performance​

Looking at the full 16-series run, India show a clear decline in Test dominance:

• Heavy losses to New Zealand (0–1 in 2021; 0–3 in 2024/25)
• Failure to win a single series against South Africa, losing two
• Loss of the Border–Gavaskar Trophy in Australia (1–3 in 2024/25)
• Only occasional strong performances like 4–1 vs England and routine wins over Bangladesh/West Indies (underdogs)

Despite some home comforts, the results show struggles overseas and a visible dip from India’s earlier Test supremacy.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Let's assume for arguments sake.

IPL is reponsible for : (1) India dominating LOI cricket and holding WT20, CT and Asia Cup. (2) India performing poorly in test cricket.

Do you think any sane board, most players, and vast majority of cricketing fan masses would sacrifice (1) for improvement in (2)?

Is it worth losing tens of millions of dollars ( if we assume that the argument is correct)?

 

[sweep_shot]

I think India is finished in Test.

The new generation of Indian batters seem more suited to T20. Affect of IPL perhaps.

When India had a purple patch, it was due to old players like Kohli, Rohit, Pujara, and Ashwin. Once they retired, affects were felt.

Once Bumrah, Kuldeep, Rahul, and Siraj retire, I expect things to become even worse.

 

[Ball Blazer]

Let's assume for arguments sake.

IPL is reponsible for : (1) India dominating LOI cricket and holding WT20, CT and Asia Cup. (2) India performing poorly in test cricket.

Do you think any sane board, most players, and vast majority of cricketing fan masses would sacrifice (1) for improvement in (2)?

Is it worth losing tens of millions of dollars ( if we assume that the argument is correct)?

You are assuming a false trade-off. India doesn’t have to “sacrifice” white-ball success or billions in revenue to improve at Tests

All it needs is better scheduling and a balanced calendar. Shortening IPL a bit to keep the Test legacy alive won't cost them billions. We only have a few great Test playing nations left anyways and India was supposed to be one of them instead of losing it.

 

[RexRex]

The question that has to be asked is .. what does test cricket mean to the Indian public ? How important is it to them ? The empty stands for this test match was not nice to see. If the shorter formats and franchises are what the public likes, why would the cricketers be bothered ? Maybe Kohli/Rohit generation were the last of the test purists.

I think Bumrah is the best but would someone like him put in his best for red-ball cricket knowing the lucrative IPL is due in a couple of months ? Hard to say.

 

[sweep_shot]

The question that has to be asked is .. what does test cricket mean to the Indian public ? How important is it to them ? The empty stands for this test match was not nice to see. If the shorter formats and franchises are what the public likes, why would the cricketers be bothered ? Maybe Kohli/Rohit generation were the last of the test purists.

I think Bumrah is the best but would someone like him put in his best for red-ball cricket knowing the lucrative IPL is due in a couple of months ? Hard to say.

Bumrah is not the best and he was throughly exposed over the past 1 year or so. Indians overrate him just because he plays for India.

Test was and still is the best cricket format. There is no cricket without Test.