Rahul Dravid: Test Batting Practice Concerns
- Former India captain and coach Rahul Dravid attributes recent Test match losses to a lack of dedicated red-ball practice time for multi-format players, citing the constant shift between...
- Dravid believes the demanding schedule, requiring players to transition rapidly between formats, hinders their ability to adequately prepare for Test cricket.
- "One of the things I understood as a coach, especially the guys that play all three formats, they keep moving from one format to the other," Dravid stated...
Rahul Dravid identifies Format Fatigue as Cause of India’s Test Struggles
Table of Contents
Former India captain and coach Rahul Dravid attributes recent Test match losses to a lack of dedicated red-ball practice time for multi-format players, citing the constant shift between Test, ODI, and T20 schedules. India has lost two of its last three home Test series, signaling a downturn after a 12-year undefeated streak on home soil.
The Impact of Frequent format Changes
Dravid believes the demanding schedule, requiring players to transition rapidly between formats, hinders their ability to adequately prepare for Test cricket. Players involved in all three formats struggle to dedicate sufficient time to refining the specific skills needed for success in the longest form of the game.
“One of the things I understood as a coach, especially the guys that play all three formats, they keep moving from one format to the other,” Dravid stated at the launch of the book The rise of the Hitman: The Rohit Sharma Story in Bengaluru.
Recent Test Series Defeats
India’s previously dominant home record has been broken in recent years. They suffered a 3-0 series defeat against New Zealand in 2024 and a 2-0 loss to South Africa in November 2025. These results mark a critically important shift from their 12-year period without a home series defeat.
The South Africa series, played from November 10-20, 2025, saw India lose the first Test in Cape Town by an innings and 33 runs and the second Test in Johannesburg by 7 wickets. ESPNcricinfo provides detailed scorecards and reports of the series.
Limited Preparation Time
Dravid highlighted the compressed preparation schedule as a key issue. Players often arrive only three to four days before a Test match, leaving insufficient time for focused red-ball training. This contrasts with the more extended preparation periods historically afforded to Test specialists.
“There were times when we would get to a Test match three to four days before the match, and then when we start practising…” Dravid explained, implying the limited time available for crucial red-ball skill progress.