The nightmarish batting performance is deservedly under the scanner after India’s meek surrender in the Border-Gavaskar series but a closer look at the team’s bench strength would reveal that bowling resources are a bigger concern for the side as it navigates a difficult transition.

Skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s Test future hangs in balance after their poor returns with the bat but the national selection committee has the reserves to ensure that the order remains a solid one even if the two giants were to be phased out.

However, bowling, especially pace, is a different story.

The cupboard is bare and it will take some time to prepare another cracking line-up that can match the aura of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma.

The available names are doing their best but is that enough for the team or for Bumrah, whose workload became a massive concern during the just-concluded series?

The spearhead was forced to watch from the dressing room during the last innings of the decisive fifth and final Test that India lost by six wickets as back spasms prevented him from bowling.

Mohammed Siraj, after 36 Tests, hasn’t developed into a game-changer yet and Prasidh Krishna bowls too many loose balls.

There is the duo of Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar, who are skilful, but they are not really tested at the highest level.

In the Ranji circuit, there aren’t too many exciting fast bowling options that the selectors can explore as of now.

The main problem seems to be a dearth of left-arm seamers as Arshdeep Singh hasn’t actually set the stage on fire and Yash Dayal doesn’t look a finished product.

But when it comes to batting there is some real talent available although the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee will not decide anything till the end of the Ranji Trophy season.

If the panel decides to move away from Rohit and Kohli or the two announce retirements, there are at least half a dozen name ready to stake a claim for the two slots that will open up.

One of the prime contenders could be B Sai Sudharsan of Tamil Nadu.

The elegant left-hander impressed in his appearance for India A against Australia A in Mackay but then he had a sports hernia operation and is undergoing rehabilitation.

As and when Sudharsan is ready and if there are at least a couple of slots, he should be in contention provided he is in form and has the requisite fitness levels.

In the current set-up, there is Devdutt Padikkal, another stylish and sinewy left-hander, who has played a couple of Tests.

Abhimanyu Easwaran has been around the side for three years now but there is a belief in the Indian cricketing circle that he is not cut out for bigger challenges in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia).

A proof of it the recent series, where he travelled with the squad but wasn’t even remotely in contention for a playing XI slot in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

For Sarfaraz Khan, his technique against real quick bowling was always doubtful but the manner in which he got out in Pune and Mumbai in the home Tests against New Zealand has made the current team management wary.

In most of the venues, Sarfaraz didn’t even come out to bat during the customary net sessions, an indication that he is quite low in the pecking order.

There is every chance that he might not make it to squad for the upcoming limited-overs series against England.

There are also three seasoned players who might get a second wind if the second half of Ranji Trophy goes well for them.

They are Chennai Super Kings skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, who is yet to make his debut, three-Test-old Rajat Patidar and Mumbai’s very own Shreyas Iyer.

Iyer’s problem has been the short ball, while Patidar flattered to deceive against England at home last year.

Gaikwad failed in two India A games Down Under but his pedigree is unquestionable.

It is understood that the selection committee won’t be looking at just the volume of runs or wickets but would also focus on impactful performances.

A century on a Lahli green top or a five-wicket haul on a Rajkot belter would carry more weight than performances in favourable conditions.

How a young bowler is coming back with the old ball for his third or fourth spell or how a batter is dealing with spinners on rank turners will also hold more credence.

But any decision on who would be elevated to the next level will be taken only after the end of the domestic season in February.

India’s next red-ball assignment is the tour of England in June.

Australian skipper Pat Cummins rates Virat Kohli as a great competitor who makes the game lively with his theatrics and he will be “sad” if the latest Border-Gavaskar trophy does end up being the Indian superstar’s last tour Down Under.

Following the hundred in the series opener in Perth, Kohli’s troubles outside the off-stump compounded as he was caught in the slip cordon eight times over the course of five Tests.

The tour that got over on Sunday is likely to be Kohli’s last.

“It’s always been a a wonderful contest. More than just the runs that he scored, he brings a bit of theatre to the game which is sometimes good and sometimes it can rile you up as an opposition, which I’m sure is part of his plans,” Cummins said in a response to a PTI query after the six wicket win in Sydney.

“Really enjoyed playing with him. He’s been one of the the star batters for the last decade or so. If you get his wicket it goes a long way to winning a game. So yeah, it will be sad if it’s his last series.”

Cummins did admit that Bumrah’s absence on the final day of the series did help them, considering he took 32 wickets in the series.

“Every time he (Bumrah) bowled he seemed to have an impact and took some key wickets. So yeah, no doubt that (his absence) helped our chase a little bit.”

Although he termed it as Indian team’s internal matter, Cummins was a touch surprised with Rohit Sharma’s decision to drop himself from the playing eleven on account of poor form.

“I think you’re always surprised when the captain kind of doesn’t play. And you know, same with Ashwin retiring, but honestly it doesn’t really affect us at all.

“You just turn up and you see who’s going to be on the team sheet and you play whoever eleven they put out there. Honestly, it’s been very little conversation I’ve chatted with him about what’s going on there,” Cummins said.

He termed the win against India as “huge” in the context of the Indo-Australia bilaterals, having lost twice at home previously.

“No, it’s a huge win in the context of this series. It’s as big a series as you get to play at home. It felt like it was kind of see-sawing throughout the whole series. So to finish it 3-1 to hold the trophy is an amazing feeling,” Cummins said.

“…… and I think the extra layer is now securing a spot in the World Test Championship Final which was always a huge goal for us in this cycle.”

He has been a part of T20 World Cup winning squad, won the 50-over World Cup, World Test Championship mace and Ashes as the skipper and now the India series that his predecessor Tim Paine had lost twice.

When he was asked if he has any succession plan in place, he sidestepped the issue.

“First of all I just absolutely love what I do. So, I mean that’s probably the biggest driver in wanting to play Test Cricket and work with this team and support staff.”

So does he feel that he has done it all?

“Unfortunately, I have got to keep playing. We’ll stay on this side guys and then we’ll come over here,” he smiled.

Legendary Sunil Gavaskar on Sunday urged Indian batters to play in the Ranji Trophy without offering any excuses to iron out technical deficiencies that led to their peril in two successive series against New Zealand and Australia.

Gavaskar said it was worrying to see the Indian batters churning out underwhelming efforts against New Zealand at home and in the just-concluded series against Australia Down Under.

India succumbed to the Kiwis 0-3 before surrendering to the Aussies 1-3.

“On January 23, there is the next round of the Ranji Trophy. Let’s see how many players from this squad play. There should be no excuse for not being able to play,” Gavaskar told Star Sports.

“If you do not play those matches, Gautam Gambhir will have to take a few tough decisions against those who are not available for the Ranji Trophy,” he added.

“Gambhir should be saying: ‘you do not have that commitment. We need commitment. You are not playing. Whatever you want to do, do it. But for Indian cricket, you cannot return to the Test squad.”

Gavaskar said flaws have crept into Indian batsmen’s approach because of not playing domestic cricket on available opportunities.

“What I saw were technical deficiencies. If you have been making the same mistakes, and I am not just talking about this series. I am talking about the New Zealand series as well that did you do against New Zealand in India?”

Gavaskar said domestic cricket assumes importance in view of the upcoming 2025-2027 WTC cycle.

“And that’s why, now, because the next cycle will start in June, we have not qualified for the World Test Championship. From now on, we should be ready for it. If we have to take tough decisions, then we will have to take them,” he said.

With the next WTC cycle in focus, Gavaskar said India should now focus more on young cricketers such as Yashasvi Jaiswal and Nitish Kumar Reddy.

“They are hungry to earn a name for India and themselves. Such players are needed. You need such players who will protect their wicket like their life,” he noted.

“That’s why I’m interested that on January 23, in the Ranji Trophy matches, who will play? I want to see that.”

“Because at that time, there will be T20 matches against England. But those who are not playing T20, will they play Ranji Trophy matches or not?” he said.