Former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin He believes that the future of Test cricket depends on making first-class cricket attractive enough for young players. Speaking at the Cricket Info Honors Awards 2026, Ashwin argued that the challenge of preserving red ball cricket extends far beyond India and is an issue facing the global game.His comments come at a time when India’s Test team is going through a rough patch. Consecutive home whitewash defeats by New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa in 2025 have raised serious concerns about the team’s performance in the longest format. The loss to New Zealand was particularly significant as it ended India’s 12-year unbeaten streak at home. Apart from a hard-earned 2-2 draw in England, India have struggled to find consistency in Test cricket over the past two years.The downturn has coincided with the exit of several stalwarts. With Ashwin himself Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli And Cheteshwar Pujarahas moved away from the format leaving the team in a rebuilding phase under the leadership of Shabman Gul.Speaking after being named among the top 25 cricketers of the century, Ashwin highlighted the need to make domestic red ball cricket more rewarding for aspiring players.“First-class cricket needs to be attractive enough for the players. The BCCI has tried to improve the pay structure, but I don’t think Test cricket is just an Indian problem, it’s a global problem. Are the players being incentivized enough to pick up the red-ball game?”Ashwin noted that the demands of Test cricket are much higher than what fans see on the field. The physical and mental stress of playing five-day matches, coupled with extensive travel and the constant need for rehabilitation, can make the format a challenging career choice.“It’s a tough proposition when players can play for a couple of months and earn a pretty decent living. That said, having played Test cricket and put my body on the line, I can say that there’s no comparison, nothing can replace the feeling at the end of a tough Test match. And if you’re serious about Test cricket, young cricketers should be groomed as they get older.”Ashwin retired as one of India’s most successful Test cricketers. In 106 Tests, he scored 3,503 runs at an average of 25.75, including six centuries and 14 fifties, with a highest score of 124. With the ball, he took 537 wickets at an average of 24.00, with 37 five-wicket hauls and eight wickets in the match.He is India’s second highest wicket-taker in Test cricket and is widely regarded as one of the country’s best spinners.
