India Face Tough Transition Period, Limited Bowling Options May Worry Gautam Gambhir

India's qualification for World Test Championship final in June next year is hanging in balance and even if y make gre for third consecutive time, it will be a massive surprise if skipper Rohit Sharma stays available for next two-year WTC cycle. Ditto for Ravichandran Ashwin , who will be 41 by n. Ravindra Jeja and Virat Kohli , two supremely fit men, will be 39.

embarrassing Test series defeat at home against New Zealand has alrey triggered a debate around effectiveness of a few seniors. Ravi Shastri could only empathize with Gambhir.

"New Zealand have beaten m (India) handsomely in both Test matches. It's food for thought (on series loss). He (Gambhir) has just taken over job. It's never easy being coach of a team that has such a big following," Shastri said while commentating during second Test in Pune.

"It's still early days in his career as a coach. But he'll soon learn." re is no doubt India are looking at a tough transition.

As many as four world-class match-winners are expected to bid ieu to game one by one in next couple of years and Gautam Gambhir is in an unenviable position as he coach.

re are multiple options available in batting but India may struggle to find good bowlers.

Mohammed Shami, even if he comes back, is at end of his glorious 10-year-run for India and both Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj are more than decent bowlers even as y do not have menacing effect of Shami when Bumrah is operating from or end.

real problem is next-in-line bowlers. re's Avesh Khan and Khaleel Ahmed, who are quick bowlers but consistency and fitness has been ir problem.

Navdeep Saini's pace has dropped and his best years are behind him. Umran Malik has alrey lost his way and Mukesh Kumar, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Vidwath Kaverappa don't have that kind of pace that can put doubts in batters' minds.

Bumrah is a gift of God and Shami a freak talent and unless someone like Mayank Yav becomes fit and consistently available for longer version, cupboard is actually bare.

or area that could be a big concern is seam bowling all-rounder unless Hardik Pandya , who is 30 now, has an apparent change of heart.

Nitish Reddy is a work in progress. People in know of things mitted that he is in team because of 'TINA' factor (re Is No Alternative) in this team.

willow wielders are in a better place though.

With Yashasvi Jaiswal making one of opener's slot his own, once Rohit is out of Test scene, re are three candidates -- two right handers Abhimanyu Easwaran, Ruturaj Gaikw -- and southpaw B Sai Sudharsan.

Easwaran has most prolific record with 27 first-class hundreds, an average of nearly 50 in 99 red-ball games with four centuries in last four games which prompted his selection as reserve opener for series.

Easwaran is more of a grafter in Cheteshwar Pujara mould but he has been in Indian team's periphery for at least five years now.

re is a perception about Easwaran that he never scores in big games and pressure situations. Two Ranji trophy finals, three semi-finals and three quarter-finals without a half-century doesn't speak highly about his temperament.

A case in point is only game that he failed in five domestic red ball matches this season was Duleep Trophy opener where opposition bowling attack h Avesh Khan, Akash Deep and Khaleel Ahmed, easily best combination in tournament.

Gaikw is a terrific white-ball cricketer but only seven first-class hundreds in 35 games isn't what Test team would be looking at although his aggressive game might at times work in specific conditions.

This brings us to B Sai Sudharsan, left-hander from Tamil Nu, who has a good technique, sound temperament and an appetite for big runs. He recently played for County team Surrey. He can bat as an opener and also at number three.

next slot is most envious one -- Virat Kohli's. Devdutt Pikkal, who scored a fine half-century on Test debut and is one of most stylish batters going around, is an exciting option.

Rishabh Pant is like MS Dhoni , re is very little chance any keeper-batter can come near him in next 10 years.

Sarfaraz Khan has started brilliantly in five Tests so far but wher he is that ideal all-conditions No. 6 in line-up will be known in Australia. Axar Patel is a terrific bowler for under-prepared surfaces and can also be a handy batter like Jeja but his bowling could be exposed on surfaces that do not offer help. Jeja could play as a pure batter in SENA countries but one can't be so sure about Axar.

Washington Sundar overshowed someone like Ravichandran Ashwin in Pune with 11 wickets and is a very handy batter as 2021 Brisbane showed. Going forward in post Ashwin-Jeja era, Washington could be single spin-all-rounder.