The averages of India's leading Test batters have dipped in the last few years.
Former off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has slammed the Indian team management for preparing turning tracks to finish Test matches in two and a half days, which dented the confidence of the Indian batters immensely in recent years.
The nature of Test pitches in India have been a topic of debate, especially in the last five or six years. India's stance has been quite clear as they go for victory by playing to their strengths.
While spin-friendly pitches have played a part in India's unbeaten run of 17 consecutive Test series at home, it has also had its drawbacks. The biggest one is the dip in averages of leading batters such as Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane.
Only Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Ravindra Jadeja average over 40 among the Test regulars who have played more than 8 matches at home since 2020.
According to Harbhajan, the problem lies in the pitches as he believes the plan of winning Test matches inside three days is hurting the players in the longer run.
"We've started playing on pitches that turn a lot more. We wanted to win and we did win but we wanted to win in two and a half days. I think, if we had produced normal pitches that started to turn from Day 3 and Day 4, we still would have won but the batters would have gotten time to settle in. And we wouldn't be discussing the problems of our batters against spinners. We dented the confidence of our batters because anybody get out (cheaply) on those pitches," Harbhajan told Sports Tak.
He further stated that India should trust its bowlers to produce results on normal pitches instead of rank turners.
"We still have a chance (to rectify this). If we play on good pitches, I don't think anyone can beat India. The pacers that India have, the spin attack that there is, they would definitely win you Tests on Day 5 if not on Day 3. But if you play on good pitches, the batters will score runs, and their confidence will only go up when they score runs. So I don't think our batters have forgotten to play spin but the conditions have been such (in the last few years) that it has become almost impossible," Harbhajan remarked.
India's next Test assignment is the two-match series against Bangladesh, starting on September 19 at Chepauk.