The upcoming India vs New Zealand 3rd Test in Mumbai on 1 November may mark the final time India’s celebrated veterans Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja take the field together in a home Test. With their advancing ages and recent form struggles, the quartet may be nearing the end of an era that transformed India into an almost unbeatable force on home soil.
Fans flocking to Wankhede Stadium would do well to cherish this potentially final chapter of four legends playing side by side.
Ageing warriors and changing form
India’s next home series is not scheduled until October 2025, when the West Indies tour. By then, Ravichandran Ashwin will be 39, Rohit Sharma 38, Virat Kohli 36, and Ravindra Jadeja 36, raising questions about whether all four will still be active in the longest format. Since India’s successful home series run began, the team has won 42 out of 55 home Tests, with this quartet playing crucial roles. Together, they’ve featured in 22 of those matches, yielding 17 wins.
However, age and injury have taken their toll, with recent performances showing signs of wear. In a recent setback, New Zealand’s victory in Pune punctured India’s unbeaten aura at home.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma: Struggling with Spin
Virat Kohli’s performances against spin have been under scrutiny recently, as he averaged only 28.3 against spin in Asia since 2020. His last few dismissals have highlighted challenges with length and timing, leading to concerns over his recent Test record, which includes five ducks and a string of low scores in his last 33 games.
Rohit Sharma’s form has also taken a hit, with his average against spin dropping to 36.2. His style has shifted towards aggression since the 2022 T20 World Cup exit, sometimes affecting his stability in Tests. His willingness to charge the bowler often leaves him vulnerable to missteps.
Ashwin and Jadeja: Worn by Time and Tactics
Ravichandran Ashwin’s once unassailable reputation as India’s mainstay spinner has faced challenges, as opposition teams have improved in scoring against him. His remarkable career economy rate of 2.83 has risen against teams like England and New Zealand, who have found success attacking him. Ashwin’s bowling in this year’s Bangladesh series saw batters score at 3.31 per over, a departure from his trademark control.
Ravindra Jadeja has been a symbol of discipline with his metronomic accuracy and economy. However, recent figures show a decline; this year, New Zealand scored at 3.44 against him, as Jadeja’s defensive instincts occasionally gave way to faster, flatter deliveries. The veteran all-rounder’s increasing involvement outside of cricket, including politics and other pursuits, further clouds his future in the sport.
India’s power shift and defensive stances
With the toll of time visible, Rohit Sharma has been placing defensive fielders for Ashwin and Jadeja, a move that acknowledges their waning influence. In the recent Pune Test, as New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway scored freely, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant could be heard calling for raised body language, a stark departure from the confident tone of past matches. India’s once-ironclad spin duo now face more resistance, marking a shift in their dominance.
End of an Era?
For years, Kohli, Rohit, Ashwin, and Jadeja have been symbols of India’s strength at home. As they prepare to face the New Zealand in Mumbai, there is a growing sense that this could be the last time these veterans share the field in whites on Indian soil. Their legacy, crafted over a decade, remains unparalleled, but the journey may soon close. Fans and players alike look to this Mumbai Test as both a battle and a celebration of an era that defined Indian cricket.
