Is this the mentally toughest indian test team ever?

[Number]

Edit...

Edited August 5, 2025 by Number

[New guy]

10 hours ago, raki05 said:

We had never been mentally tough especially chasing in 4th inning or defending. Barring exception of Gaba and Oval yday. Sample for being mentally tough is still small. Let them at-least chase few 200 first in 4th inning and defend 300 total.

4th innings chases are becoming easier and more common today than in the 90s and 2000s. All teams are getting better at it.

[Vk1]

whenever we toured Eng, they always had a very good bowling attack ( except 2007? ) this Eng team will struggle in Ashes too with their current raw untested attack

[Ultimate_Game]

1 hour ago, New guy said:

4th innings chases are becoming easier and more common today than in the 90s and 2000s. All teams are getting better at it.

 

Except us. We somehow still make a chase of 200 look like 400.

[gakgupta]

11 hours ago, vvvslaxman said:

 

Jadeja , Sundar, Pant  these three are the toughest mentally. I Have seen others losing their technique under a bit of pressure.  These three are unflappable. 

Agree

[raki05]

1 hour ago, New guy said:

4th innings chases are becoming easier and more common today than in the 90s and 2000s. All teams are getting better at it.

Ya saw that in london in the chase of 190.

[deathmonger]

I think more than toughness, India is just becoming better and better.

 

India with 1.4 billion people should dominate cricket. Only reason it doesn't is poverty.

 

It's no shock that the other poor Asian countries simply can't compete against us (Pakistan/SL our contemporaries are minnows now who we beat with ease) and only the richer SENA countries can due to fitter/taller bodies.

 

Should be resolved in 10-20 years with better facilities/nutrition/ecosystem.

 

Look at the players that are coming through - Pant, Gill, Jaiswal, Sundar are all 23-27 and are potential ATGs and have already had some insane performances. These guys have got at least a decade of cricket left and haven't even hit their peak.

 

NKR, Jurel other high potential kids who are around 23.

 

Even guys like KLR and Siraj are quite good.

 

KLR is prolly India's 3rd greatest opener as of now (and is better than Sehwag outside Asia). Jaiswal will prolly be no 1/2 and KLR will be 3/4.

 

Siraj will prolly end up as India's no 2 pacer behind Bumrah.

 

Even scrubs like Shardul have been good.

 

India have won 13 SENA tests since 2018. For 13 more before that it goes till 1977 lol which is 40 years before. And SENA have been really good since 2018 while in the last 40 years except for SA all have been poor at times.

 

T20 cricket India is already pulling away. Overseas tests are tougher but even that will be done.

 

In 20-25 years we should be like current day China but with 200 million more people. No one is beating us then.

Edited August 5, 2025 by deathmonger

[Gollum]

11 minutes ago, deathmonger said:

I think more than toughness, India is just becoming better and better.

 

India with 1.4 billion people should dominate cricket. Only reason it doesn't is poverty.

 

It's no shock that the other poor Asian countries simply can't compete against us (Pakistan/SL our contemporaries are minnows now who we beat with ease) and only the richer SENA countries can due to fitter/taller bodies.

 

Should be resolved in 10-20 years with better facilities/nutrition/ecosystem.

 

Look at the players that are coming through - Pant, Gill, Jaiswal, Sundar are all 23-27 and are potential ATGs and have already had some insane performances. These guys have got at least a decade of cricket left and haven't even hit their peak.

 

NKR, Jurel other high potential kids who are around 23.

 

Even guys like KLR and Siraj are quite good.

 

KLR is prolly India's 3rd greatest opener as of now (and is better than Sehwag outside Asia). Jaiswal will prolly be no 1/2 and KLR will be 3/4.

 

Siraj will prolly end up as India's no 2 pacer behind Bumrah.

 

Even scrubs like Shardul have been good.

 

India have won 13 SENA tests since 2018. For 13 more before that it goes till 1977 lol which is 40 years before. And SENA have been really good since 2018 while in the last 40 years except for SA all have been poor at times.

 

T20 cricket India is already pulling away. Overseas tests are tougher but even that will be done.

 

In 20-25 years we should be like current day China but with 200 million more people. No one is beating us then.

Admire your optimism but don't think Indian cricket has that ambition, which is a key driving factor in becoming GOAT at something. Non-cricket factors usually overrule cricket interests and we keep underachieving. 

 

Not just cricket, in most facets we are like that. Only Indian chess community has shown the urge and elite mentality to become the undisputed best. 

[Number]

14 minutes ago, deathmonger said:

I think more than toughness, India is just becoming better and better.

 

India with 1.4 billion people should dominate cricket. Only reason it doesn't is poverty.

 

It's no shock that the other poor Asian countries simply can't compete against us (Pakistan/SL our contemporaries are minnows now who we beat with ease) and only the richer SENA countries can due to fitter/taller bodies.

 

Should be resolved in 10-20 years with better facilities/nutrition/ecosystem.

 

Look at the players that are coming through - Pant, Gill, Jaiswal, Sundar are all 23-27 and are potential ATGs and have already had some insane performances. These guys have got at least a decade of cricket left and haven't even hit their peak.

 

NKR, Jurel other high potential kids who are around 23.

 

Even guys like KLR and Siraj are quite good.

 

KLR is prolly India's 3rd greatest opener as of now (and is better than Sehwag outside Asia). Jaiswal will prolly be no 1/2 and KLR will be 3/4.

 

Siraj will prolly end up as India's no 2 pacer behind Bumrah.

 

Even scrubs like Shardul have been good.

 

India have won 13 SENA tests since 2018. For 13 more before that it goes till 1977 lol which is 40 years before. And SENA have been really good since 2018 while in the last 40 years except for SA all have been poor at times.

 

T20 cricket India is already pulling away. Overseas tests are tougher but even that will be done.

 

In 20-25 years we should be like current day China but with 200 million more people. No one is beating us then.

Should happen across multiple sports too. Today I was watching Asia cup basketball tournament. Our team is ranked 76 worldwide but they almost edged 34th ranked Jordan. They lost in extra time. 

With more budget federations can hire better coaches, invest in identifying talent from grassroot level. Things will improve.

[deathmonger]

1 minute ago, Gollum said:

Admire your optimism but don't think Indian cricket has that ambition, which is a key driving factor in becoming GOAT at something. Non-cricket factors usually overrule cricket interests and we keep underachieving. 

 

Not just cricket, in most facets we are like that. Only Indian chess community has shown the urge and elite mentality to become the undisputed best. 

Thing is cricket doesn't have many competitors. USA, Russia, China, other European countries don't play. And niche in SENA tbh. Don't think that has that high of a barrier.

[Gollum]

In my lifetime, I want to see some things achieved by my countrymen in sports

 

1. Return to glory days in hockey, multiple Olympic gold medals, WCs. 

 

2. Consistent top 10 finisher in Summer Olympics medal table, and winning in marquee events like track and field, wrestling, gymnastics, swimming, cycling.  Reach the level of France, Italy, Germany, Japan. 

 

3. Tennis GS singles champion (tennis)

 

4. Qualification to FIFA WC

 

5. In cricket, breaking Australia's 3 consecutive WCs record, and WI's 15 years unbeaten streak in tests. Foock individual records, I want us to cherish trophies, maces, number 1 team rankings, victories in SENA test series etc, let a dozen Poms break Sachin's record, I don't care. 

 

6. An Indian MMA world champion (UFC or whichever organization holds the most prestigious belt), or in pro boxing....should be one of the most recognized combat athletes in the world, like Khabib or Manny Pacquiao. 

 

One thing I am sure I'll see is India matching or overtaking Russian chess legacy. 

 

Hope @deathmonger's words come true. 

Edited August 5, 2025 by Gollum

[deathmonger]

31 minutes ago, Gollum said:

In my lifetime, I want to see some things achieved by my countrymen in sports

 

1. Return to glory days in hockey, multiple Olympic gold medals, WCs. 

 

2. Consistent top 10 finisher in Summer Olympics medal table, and winning in marquee events like track and field, wrestling, gymnastics, swimming, cycling.  Reach the level of France, Italy, Germany, Japan. 

 

3. Tennis GS singles champion (tennis)

 

4. Qualification to FIFA WC

 

5. In cricket, breaking Australia's 3 consecutive WCs record, and WI's 15 years unbeaten streak in tests. Foock individual records, I want us to cherish trophies, maces, number 1 team rankings, victories in SENA test series etc, let a dozen Poms break Sachin's record, I don't care. 

 

6. An Indian MMA world champion (UFC or whichever organization holds the most prestigious belt), or in pro boxing....should be one of the most recognized combat athletes in the world, like Khabib or Manny Pacquiao. 

 

One thing I am sure I'll see is India matching or overtaking Russian chess legacy. 

 

Hope @deathmonger's words come true. 

 

1, 2 and 5 will happen before 2050. Others might take time.

 

Reason for that is in 1, 2 and 5 we are already somewhat decent and more investment will only compound this.

 

Hockey and cricket already at an ok level (cricket more so) so more investment in systems should lead to 1 and 5, especially 2035 onwards.

 

As far as 2 is concerned, top 10 in Olympics require 12-15 golds. Think the sports in which we are somewhat okay at (win medals, qualify for finals etc) currently we will be world class and should get those golds (hockey, cricket, wrestling, shooting, badminton, athletics, archery especially compound etc).

 

Tennis, Football, MMA just not on the same level. Even China has been unable to do it (I think China has won women's GS though).

Edited August 5, 2025 by deathmonger

[Gollum]

21 minutes ago, deathmonger said:

Tennis, Football, MMA just not on the same level. Even China has been unable to do it (I think China has won women's GS though).

Yes, Li Na, multiple GS titles.

 

They qualified to men's FIFA WC once. Their women were once runner up in WC, very good there. They usually invest a lot in women's sports because competition is lesser.

 

MMA they have a UFC champ right now in women's division. They had a pro boxing world champ (WBO) few years ago in men's.

[Ultimate_Game]

38 minutes ago, Gollum said:

In my lifetime, I want to see some things achieved by my countrymen in sports

 

1. Return to glory days in hockey, multiple Olympic gold medals, WCs. 

 

2. Consistent top 10 finisher in Summer Olympics medal table, and winning in marquee events like track and field, wrestling, gymnastics, swimming, cycling.  Reach the level of France, Italy, Germany, Japan. 

 

3. Tennis GS singles champion (tennis)

 

4. Qualification to FIFA WC

 

5. In cricket, breaking Australia's 3 consecutive WCs record, and WI's 15 years unbeaten streak in tests. * individual records, I want us to cherish trophies, maces, number 1 team rankings, victories in SENA test series etc, let a dozen Poms break Sachin's record, I don't care. 

 

6. An Indian MMA world champion, or in pro boxing....should be one of the most recognized combat athletes in the world

 

One thing I am sure I'll see is India matching or overtaking Russian chess legacy. 

 

Hope @deathmonger's words come true. 

 

I'm more of a realist or pessimist. We may have the ability and skills to get to the top but we won't due to the following reasons:

 

1. Star culture and stars over team: We don't put team or country goals over individuals. Take cricket for example. We under-achieved over the last few years coz we would rather lose with over the hill stars like Kohli and Rohit in the team than win without them. This star culture and stars/individuals over team mindset will always hold us back. Other top sporting nations like China, US, Germany etc. don't do that. This is a huge cultural and mindset difference and I don't see us ever getting out of it.

 

2. Selfishness and short term goals: We (and most sub-continental nations) are selfish to the extreme and extremely short-sighted. As an example, BCCI would rather earn a few extra dollars instead of fighting to host WTC Finals in India and win WTC. For them an ICC title doesn't matter. It's only dollars and money which counts. This is the same thinking which allowed that snake Shashank Manohar to make a green pitch at Nagpur against Aussies in 2004. That resulted in India losing Test series to Aussies and the only time we lost to them at home since 1960s. And Manohar did that coz he was loyal to Sharad Pawar who had lost to Jagmohan Dalmiya in the BCCI elections and Ganguly (Indian captain at the time) was close to Dalmiya. Likes of Manohar had no problem in undermining Indian team just to gain political brownie points. I doubt any other non-subcontinental nation would do that.

 

3. Bias and prejudice: You may not like it but goras and western nations will never allow us to be the winners. We see that in Hockey all the time where blatant cheating plays a big role in our elimination in knockouts. We'll see the same prejudice across the sports dominated by western nations. Unless it's an individual sport, I don't expect India to be allowed to be one of the top sporting teams.

 

4. Corruption: Finally corruption will continue to hold us back. Other than cricket most of the sports are sponsored by the govt and depend on govt organizations. And most of the funding and support is controlled by politicians and babus managing these sporting associations. And we all know what happens when desis get into these posts and get power-hungry and greedy.

[Lord]

13 hours ago, Gollum said:

I think Pant and Sundar are a class above when it comes to clutchness. Bumrah, Jaiswal, Jadeja, Siraj are ofc terrific cricketers but they don't give the assured feel of those two in this format at least. It all started with their Gabba partnership, then that underrated partnership in Ahmedabad (final) test against Eng.......here also.  

 

They have their failures too like MCG Test. Pant especially can throw his wicket out of nowhere

[Gollum]

44 minutes ago, Lord said:

 

They have their failures too like MCG Test. Pant especially can throw his wicket out of nowhere

Nobody can be 100% perfect, even Laxman failed against Udal, Kaneria types on day 5.

[Ranvir]

Yes they are the toughest. Even when they take a beating they come back strong in the next match. Compare that to the 2011 World Cup team that got destroyed on the England tour.

[New guy]

12 hours ago, raki05 said:

Ya saw that in london in the chase of 190.

Exceptions will always be there right? On average, 4th innings chases have become easier all over the world.

[Gollum]

8 hours ago, Ranvir said:

Yes they are the toughest. Even when they take a beating they come back strong in the next match. Compare that to the 2011 World Cup team that got destroyed on the England tour.

2011 team was on its last legs. Dravid, VVS, Zaheer all were gone in a year's time.....Sachin, Harbhajan, Gambhir, Viru in 2 years. Big transition. Like last year when we got ragdolled by NZ and Aus. 

 

Same Indian team showed lots of character in the 4 years preceding that....in Aus, NZ, Eng, RSA. RSA 2010-11 was the last triumphant moment of that team, where they fought back after Centurion massacre, and ended the series with the greatest RSA side at their mercy. Series wins in NZ, Eng, narrow loss in Aus (SCG test was robbery), draw in RSA. They became number one test team in the world and deserved it. 

 

If we don't plan our transition properly in the future, when Gill, Jaiswal, Sundar etc. exit together, we will have a bad phase. Only Aussies handle their transitions somewhat better because their selectors are ruthless. 

[deathmonger]

2 hours ago, Gollum said:

2011 team was on its last legs. Dravid, VVS, Zaheer all were gone in a year's time.....Sachin, Harbhajan, Gambhir, Viru in 2 years. Big transition. Like last year when we got ragdolled by NZ and Aus. 

 

Same Indian team showed lots of character in the 4 years preceding that....in Aus, NZ, Eng, RSA. RSA 2010-11 was the last triumphant moment of that team, where they fought back after Centurion massacre, and ended the series with the greatest RSA side at their mercy. Series wins in NZ, Eng, narrow loss in Aus (SCG test was robbery), draw in RSA. They became number one test team in the world and deserved it. 

 

If we don't plan our transition properly in the future, when Gill, Jaiswal, Sundar etc. exit together, we will have a bad phase. Only Aussies handle their transitions somewhat better because their selectors are ruthless. 

That team finished with the WC win. After that juice ran out.

 

Even Australia had transition issues tbh. 2008 SA series, 2010-11 Ashes, 2012 SA series. Even lost a lot in Asia - whitewashes in India, UAE, SL. Cummins coming back in 2017 kind of put all the pieces back. He had been missing for years since 2011.