Ravichandran Ashwin Advocates for Revamping First-Class Cricket to Boost Test Performance
Revitalizing First-Class Cricket
Ravichandran Ashwin, a former Indian cricket star, emphasized the need for first-class cricket to become more appealing to players in order to enhance India's Test cricket performance. He noted that the challenge of incentivizing the longest format of the game is a worldwide issue, not limited to India alone. Ashwin shared these insights during the Cricinfo Honours Awards 2026.
Current State of Indian Test Cricket
India's Test cricket is currently facing significant challenges, having experienced consecutive whitewash defeats against New Zealand and South Africa at home in 2024 and 2025. These losses have ended a 12-year home dominance for the team. Aside from a commendable 2-2 draw against England in an away series, there has been little to celebrate for Indian fans in the longest format. The disappointing performances have also prompted the retirement of key players such as Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Cheteshwar Pujara, leaving the team in a transitional phase under the captaincy of Shubman Gill.
Incentives for Players
During the Cricinfo Honours Awards, where Ashwin was recognized as one of the top 25 cricketers of the century, he stated, "First-class cricket must be enticing enough for players to pursue. The BCCI has made strides in revamping the salary structure, but the issue of Test cricket is not confined to India; it is a global concern. Are players sufficiently incentivized to engage in the red-ball format?"
Challenges of Test Cricket
Ashwin highlighted the physical and mental demands of Test cricket, which require players to constantly recover. He remarked, "It’s a tough situation when players can earn a decent living by playing for just a couple of months. However, having played Test cricket and given my all, I can confidently say that nothing compares to the satisfaction of finishing a hard-fought Test match. If we are serious about Test cricket, young talents should be nurtured by slightly old-fashioned coaches."
Ashwin's Impressive Test Career
In his Test career, Ashwin has played 106 matches for India, accumulating 3,503 runs at an average of 25.75, including six centuries and 14 fifties, with a highest score of 124. He has also taken 537 wickets at an average of 24.00, featuring 37 five-wicket hauls and eight ten-wicket hauls. Ashwin stands as India's second-highest wicket-taker in Test history and is regarded as one of the nation's most accomplished all-rounders.