3 Major concerns for Team India ahead of 2026

The Indian cricket team had a very successful 2025, winning the ICC Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup, leveling the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England 2-2 and continuing their dominance in white-ball cricket. However, despite these achievements, a number of notable issues emerged over the course of the year that concerned fans and pundits alike.

As the cricket fever heads into a crucial 2026 season, with a plethora of mouth-watering events lined up, CricTracker has taken a deep dive into the concerns that India will bring and look to improve in the coming calendar year.

Here are the three biggest concerns for Team India in 2026

The test setup needs a makeover

The Indian Test squad had a mixed year, struggling for consistency in red-ball cricket. The team suffered a disappointing defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and was later whitewashed 2-0 by South Africa. While India managed to level the Test series against England and secure a series win against the West Indies, their performances against big teams exposed their vulnerabilities.

With the previous one World Test Championship Late in the cycle and introducing a relatively younger squad, India showed early promise but failed to maintain momentum against quality opposition such as South Africa. Looking ahead, India faces demanding Test assignments against Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand in 2026. To remain competitive in the current WTC cycle, the team must address issues such as playing high-quality spin and building the temperament to put in long hours.