Where did India go wrong at The Oval?

India has lost again. A country with rich seams of cricketing talent, a governing board with an abundance of money, and a team worshipped by millions of adoring supporters was beaten by Australia in the World Test Championship final at The Oval, London.

It is 10 years since India last won an International Cricket Council trophy, although it has come close in most events since 2013.

Last year, India was beaten in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup in Australia, following an exit in the 2021 edition at the Super 12 stage in the UAE. Also in 2021, the team lost to New Zealand in the WTC final.

Prior to that, India reached the semi-finals of the ODI World Cup in both 2019 and 2015, and the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup in 2016 and 2022, having been finalists in the 2014 T20 World Cup.

Following the latest failure, this perceived drought in securing ICC trophies is now subject to multiple inquests.

Some blame the Indian team management’s decision to bowl first, having won the toss. Those responsible for the decision argued that the conditions were overcast and there was quite a lot of grass on the pitch, on which batting was expected to get easier later in the match.

At 76 for three after 24.1 overs, India was on the verge of being on top of the game, only for its bowlers to fail to press home the advantage. This should take nothing away from the ability of Australia’s middle order batters, Travis Head and Steve Smith, who skilfully constructed a partnership of 285, both scoring centuries, in a final total of 469 all out.

India’s team management has also been criticized for omitting R. Aswin, currently the highest ranked bowler by the ICC. He is also the second-ranked all-rounder. His omission mystified several