How the Big 4 of Rohit, Kohli, Ashwin and Jadeja have fared in Tests India have lost at home
India's Big 4 of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja have had huge roles in the Men in Blue's Test triumphs against strong sides, especially in home conditions. They had to come up with the goods for the hosts to do well against New Zealand. However, they failed, as a result of which India succumbed to their first Test series loss at home since 2012.
Skipper Rohit managed only 62 runs in four innings in the first two Tests, with 52 of those coming in the second innings in Bengaluru. In his other three visits to the crease, he has registered scores of 2, 8, and 0. Kohli has only done slightly better, with 88 runs to his name. He scored 70 in the second essay in Bengaluru but has managed a highest of 17 in his other three innings.
Shifting focus to India's famed spin duo, Ashwin and Jadeja have claimed six wickets each in the series against New Zealand so far. The off-spinner has bowled 67 overs and has an average of 43.50, while the left-arm spinner has sent down 65.2 overs and has produced a slightly better average of 37.50.
In an endeavor to analyze how heavily Team India have depended on their Big 4 when it comes to winning Tests at home, we take a look at their records in Test matches that India have lost in home conditions.
#1 Rohit Sharma
Rohit has been part of five Tests that India have lost at home. Significantly, he has been captain in four of these games. In the five matches that India have lost at home, with Rohit in the playing XI, the right-handed batter has managed only 167 runs at a poor average of 16.70.
The opening batter was dismissed for 6 & 12 as India went down to England by 227 runs in the first Test at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai in February 2021. The 37-year-old managed only 24 runs (12 & 12) in the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Indore in March 2023. Australia registered victory by nine wickets as Nathan Lyon starred with 8-64 in the second innings.
Rohit registered scores of 24 & 39 as India went down to England by 28 runs in the first Test at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad in January 2024. The hosts were set to chase 231 runs in their second innings and the skipper got a start but failed to convert it as he was trapped lbw by Tom Hartley. In the ongoing series against New Zealand, he is averaging 15.50 from four innings.
#2 Virat Kohli
Kohli has been part of seven Test matches that India have lost at home, two of them as captain. In these seven games, he has scored 271 runs at a disappointing average of 19.35.
The right-handed batter scored 19 & 7 as India went down to England by 10 wickets at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in November 2012. In the third Test of the same series in Kolkata, he registered scores of 6 & 20 as the Englishmen won the contest by seven wickets. Alastair-Cook led England famously went on to clinch the four-match series 2-1.
Summary of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s record in Test matches India have lost at home
The 35-year-old was dismissed for a duck and 13 as India went down to Australia by 333 runs in Pune in February 2017. After getting out for 11 in the first innings of the first Test against England in Chennai in February 2021, Kohli contributed 72 in the second essay. India, however, ended up losing the contest by 227 runs as their batting line-up collapsed in a chase of 420.
In the Indore Test against Australia in March 2023, the former India captain registered scores of 22 & 13 as the hosts went down by nine wickets. In the ongoing Test series against New Zealand, Kohli is averaging 22 from four innings.
#3 Ravichandran Ashwin
Off-spinner Ashwin has been part of eight Tests that India have lost at home. In these matches, he has claimed 39 wickets at an average of 33.66, with just one five-fer to his credit. The only instance of India losing a home Test when Ashwin claimed a five-fer was registered in Chennai in February 2021. The spinner claimed 6-61 in the second innings, but India went down to England by 227 runs.
Looking at his performance in other Tests that India have lost at home, Ashwin claimed two wickets against England in Mumbai in November 2012 and five in the next Test of the series in Kolkata. The 38-year-old claimed 3-63 & 4-119 as India went down to Australia in Pune in February 2017.
Ashwin managed only four wickets as Australia beat the hosts in Indore in March 2023. In the Hyderabad Test against England in January 2024, he picked up three wickets in both innings. In the ongoing series against New Zealand, he managed only one scalp in the Bengaluru Test and five in Pune.
#4 Ravindra Jadeja
Looking at all-rounder Jadeja's stats, he has featured in five Tests that India have lost in home conditions. In these games, he has claimed only 20 wickets at an average of 34.20, with not a single five-fer. With the bat, the left-hander has scored 190 runs at an average of 19.
Summary of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja’s record in Tests India have lost at home
The left-arm spinner claimed five wickets in the Pune Test against the Aussies in February 2017. With the willow, he managed only five runs. Jadeja picked up four wickets in Indore in March 2023 as India went down to Australia by nine wickets. He had another poor outing with the bat, registering scores of 4 & 7.
The all-rounder had a decent outing against England in Hyderabad in January 2024. He picked up five wickets and contributed 87 in the first essay, before being run out for 2 in the second. The hosts, though, lost the contest by 28 runs. In the ongoing series against the Kiwis, Jadeja picked up three wickets in the first Test in Bengaluru and as many in the second Test in Pune.