Cricket's pinnacle and ultimate format - 'The Test' - is stunning. It has several dimensions associated with it that make it second to none, and glorify its aesthetics. From the tough grind of five days, braving variable conditions and the ebbs and flows, to the sheer intensity of battles, the format is synonymous with life. It examines the players on their skills, tenacity, patience and perseverance. The real growth in a player occurs when the performance at the elite level is matched with consistency, and the red ball game is a great teacher of that subject. 

One such beautiful aspect of the longest format of the game is 'Pace Bowling'. Speed, thrill, goosebumps, fieriness, aggression, lethality, impact, etc, are some of the superlatives that describe it. Further, proverbs like 'Smell the Leather', 'Perfume Ball', 'Chin Music', among others, have been used as colloquial sayings in Test Cricket. They are all its indispensable parts.

A bowler, adorning the whites, marking his run-up, striding ahead with firm steps, the ball like a red cherry in his hands, arriving at the wicket and the popping crease, and then releasing the ball with immense pace, is a sight to behold. Add to it the crowd rooting for him, and the entire scenario becomes a spectacle and a piece of art. It would be perfect to call it 'Poetry in Motion', after all, it's merely about rhythm, flow, momentum and resonance. The better these are, the higher the chances of the ball obeying the bowler's commands, making the batters dance with them. 

See Also - Ashes 2025-26 Squad Analysis: Australia vs England Players Compared & Series Winner Prediction

This leads us to an intriguing question - 'Which has been the best pace bowling trio in the history of Test Cricket?' and how do numbers complement those players who are part of the said set. The eras that were decorated by their immaculate and fearful bowling, the comparison between them and their contemporary counterparts, and the legacy they had built for the current generations to take a cue from - all these shall aid in ranking the trios and provide an enriching insight into the folklore of bowling in Test Cricket. 

It is vital to mention that pace pairs are more common in a Test side. To support this assertion, one must look at the incisive swing bowling duo of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis of Pakistan, and the English pair of James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Finding and getting three such bowlers involved in the same team is a rarity. This includes only pure quicks and excludes fast bowling all-rounders.

However, in the 1970s-80s, the West Indies team were blessed and privileged to have a deadly bowling arsenal which was a pentad - a set of five. It was made up of the likes of Malcolm Marshall, Joel Garner, Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, and Colin Croft. They featured regularly and bowled in tandem. Back then, there used to be no respite from any end. The batters did not get any discounts, and each one of those who faced them was like a deer in the headlights. 

Marshall, Garner, Holding

The trio of Marshall, Garner and Holding played 26 Test matches together and amassed 331 wickets at a frightening average of 22.51. They operated as a group for a span of 7-8 years during the 1980s. Their fast bowling exploits brought glory to the West Indies, and consequently, the team ruled the game by a handsome margin over others. 

Ambrose, Bishop, Walsh

During the 1990s, the Caribbean Test Cricket team boasted a potent trio of fast bowlers in Ambrose, Bishop, and Walsh. They shared their 412 wickets almost identically and democratically. They are, in fact, believed to be more lethal than their predecessors. 

McGrath, Gillespie, Lee

At the start of the century, Australia dominated World Cricket with elegance and pride. At the heart of the matter were the trio of McGrath, Gillespie, and Lee. In 22 matches, they scalped 243 wickets at an average of 28.47, as a unit. Moreover, among those 22 games, they won 15 and lost just three. 

Flintoff, Hoggard, Harmison

Going neck and neck with their arch-rivals, Australia, England put across an impressive pace trio of Flintoff, Hoggard, and Harmison. During the same period and in 33 matches together, they struck 383 times. At home, they were almost unbeatable as they recorded 11 wins, 3 draws and just one loss. This included the famous Ashes series win in 2005. 

Steyn, Morkel, Philander

In the phase between 2011 and 2018, South Africa's red-ball bowling was spearheaded by three of the best quicks of this generation. Steyn breathed fire with his impeccable 'seam and swing' skills, Philander was consistently sharp, incisive and immaculate with his line and lengths, and Morkel extracted steep bounce courtesy of his height. As a combination, they were a nightmare for the opposition batters and were responsible for the Proteas holding the Test Mace during this period. Additionally, they ensured a perfect away record, winning 13 tests together, outside South Africa.  

Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood

Australia's current big three in Starc, Cummins, and Hazlewood have become the epitome of pace bowling and are recognised as ambassadors of Test Cricket. They bear a knack for searching for different yet successful ways to challenge the batters. Their presence has made their home, Down Under, a fortress and difficult to breach. Each one of them has bagged more than 150 wickets in 38 matches together, so far. Cumulatively, they have hunted down 466 batters by victimising them at an effectively paltry average of 24.50. 

Boult, Southee, Wagner

The New Zealand trio of Boult, Southee, and Wagner are statistically head and shoulders above everyone else. Playing together, in 40 matches, the Kiwis relished and dismissed the opposition batters an astounding 535 times, making them perish at an average of 25.98. They also possess symmetrical bowling numbers. Further, their mean of 13.38 wickets, together, per game makes them, hands down, way ahead of all the other names mentioned. 

On the fourth day of the second and final Test of the home series against Ireland, the Bangladesh left-arm spinner Taijul Islam created history, as he surpassed the legendary Shakib Al Hasan to set a new Test record for the national team. 

At the end of Ireland’s first innings of the ongoing Mirpur Test, Taijul Islam equalled Shakib Al Hasan in the list of most Test wickets by a Bangladesh bowler. While Taijul bagged four wickets in that first innings, he recorded 246 Test wickets, an equal number of Test wickets by a Bangladesh bowler, which Shakib Al Hasan previously held the record alone.

Also Read: Travis Head stuns with 69-ball century in AUS vs ENG 1st Ashes Test

Taijul Islam becomes leading Test wicket-taker for Bangladesh

On the fourth day of the Mirpur Test, while Bangladesh set a monumental 509-run target for Ireland in the fourth innings, Taijul scalped three wickets to surpass Shakib Al Hasan to set a new record for most Test wickets by a Bangladesh bowler. 

In the sixth over of the fourth innings, Ireland lost their first wicket, as Taijul trapped Irish captain Andy Balbirnie (13) for an lbw dismissal to become the leading Test wicket-taker in Bangladesh cricket history. 

With two more wickets on the same day, Taijul finished the day with 249 Test wickets, as the left-arm spinner is one wicket away from becoming the first Bangladesh bowler to record 250 Test wickets. 

Bangladesh bowlers with most Test wickets

• Taijul Islam: 249 wickets
• Shakib Al Hasan: 246 wickets
• Mehidy Hasan Miraz: 209 wickets
• Mohammad Rafique: 100 wickets

Ireland stumped on the fourth day at 176/6. At the end of the fourth day, only Harry Tector (50) and Curtis Campher (34*) managed to reach the 20-run mark in the fourth innings.   

Earlier on the fourth day, Bangladesh declared their second innings of the match at 297/4, with the help of four half-centuries. Mahmudul Hasan Joy (60), Shadman Islam (78), Mominul Haque (87), and Mushfiqur Rahim (53*) played powerful knocks in the innings. 

Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja created all-round history in Test cricket during the second day of the Kolkata Test against South Africa, where the left-handed batter scored a crucial 27 runs, which helped the hosts to earn a 30-run lead at the end of their first innings. 

In reply to South Africa's 159 all out in the first innings, India got a positive start despite the early wicket fall of the opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (12). Once KL Rahul and Washington Sundar's 57-run partnership for the second wicket was broken, the hosts were losing wickets at regular intervals. 

Ravindra Jadeja recorded 4000 runs and 300 wickets in Test cricket

Before Simon Harmer successfully trapped Ravindra Jadeja for an lbw, the left-handed batter scored a crucial 27 runs from 45 balls with three fours. When he completed 10 runs in that innings, Jadeja reached the 4000 Test runs milestone. Meanwhile, as a left-arm spinner, Jadeja has already recorded 338 Test wickets before South Africa's second innings in the Kolkata Test.

So, Jadeja has recorded 4000+ Test runs as well as 300+ Test wickets. He became the second Indian cricketer and fourth overall cricketer to record 4000 runs and 300 wickets in Test cricket. Kapil Dev was the first Indian to achieve these feats, while the English legend Ian Botham and the New Zealand legend Daniel Vettori were the other players to do so. 

IND vs SA: BCCI issues injury update after Shubman Gill retires hurt with neck spasm in Kolkata test

Cricketers with 4000 runs and 300 wickets in Test cricket

While South Africa scored 159 runs in the first innings of the Kolkata Test, India replied with 189 all out (captain Shubman Gill retired hurt for four runs), as the hosts earned a 30-run lead. 

South Africa ended their 18-year wait for a Test win in Pakistan after winning the second game of the two-match Test series at Rawalpindi to end the series level at 1-1. 

Leading the Test series by 1-0 after winning the series opener by 93 runs at Lahore, Pakistan chose to bat first at Rawalpindi. While they scored 333 runs in the first innings, South Africa were once struggling at 235/8, but the lower-order batters' brilliant batting helped the visitors to score 404 runs.

On the fourth day of the Test match, while Pakistan started at 94/4, South Africa bundled them out for only 138 runs, as the visitors needed only 68 runs in the fourth innings to win the game. South Africa lost only two late wickets to secure a comfortable win by eight wickets.

See Also: Older players create history during PAK vs SA 2nd Test: Know about record

South Africa recorded third Test win in Pakistan

It was South Africa's third Test win in Pakistan. After their first Test win at Faisalabad in 1997, the Proteas recorded their second Test victory in Pakistan at Karachi in 2007. Now, they won the third Test in Pakistan after recording one draw and three straight losses since their previous Test win in Karachi. It was the 18-year wait for South Africa to win a Test match in Pakistan.

Last time, South Africa beat Pakistan in Asia in the 2013 Dubai Test, where the Proteas won by an innings and 92 runs. After that Dubai Test victory, the Proteas suffered three straight Test defeats in Pakistan before winning the latest one at Rawalpindi.

South Africa won three out of last four Tests in Asia

After 14 winless Tests in Asia for a decade (four draws and 10 losses), South Africa have recorded three wins in their last four Tests in Asia. In October 2024, South Africa won two Tests in Bangladesh, and in the ongoing month, they first suffered the Lahore Test defeat before winning the Rawalpindi Test to level the series. 

South Africa will play their next Test series against the hosts India in upcoming November, which will also be a part of the 2025-2027 ICC World Test Championship. 

The Pakistan vs South Africa 2nd Test at Rawalpindi created history, an event that had not been experienced previously in almost 150 years of Test cricket. The older players set a new record in Test cricket.

Domination of older players: Keshav Maharaj, Asif Afridi, and Simon Harmer recorded five-wicket hauls

In the first innings of the Test match, while Pakistan scored 333 runs, the 35-year-old South African left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj recorded a seven-wicket haul as he had the bowling figures of 42.4-5-102-7. After Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon (four times), Maharaj became the second non-Asian bowler to record multiple seven-wicket hauls in Test cricket in Asia, while he previously recorded it in the 2018 Colombo (SSC) Test against Sri Lanka by recording nine wickets (9/129).

While South Africa replied with 404 all out, the 38-year-old Pakistan left-arm spinner Asif Afridi, who made his international cricket debut, recorded the bowling figures of 34.3-6-79-6.

Pakistan were bundled out for only 138 runs in their second innings, where the 36-year-old off-spinner Simon Harmer claimed a six-fer, as he had the bowling figures of 20-5-50-6. 

See Also: Simon Harmer joins elite 1,000-wicket club with historic Test milestone

First time three different bowlers over 35 years old recorded five-wicket hauls

This is the first time in Test cricket history that three different bowlers over 35 years old recorded a fifer in a Test match. The record of two bowlers over 35 years old claimed the five-wicket haul in a Test match happened 10 times before the 2025 Rawalpindi Test match between Pakistan and South Africa. 

It was the must-win Test for South Africa to only level the series, as they suffered a defeat in the first Test of the two-match Test series by 93 runs at Lahore. While South Africa had a target of 68 runs in the fourth innings, they comfortably chased that target by losing two wickets, as they won the Test match by eight wickets. 

John Campbell, the West Indies opener, has etched his name in the history books as the first Caribbean opener to score a Test hundred in India in 23 years. The knock was particularly critical as the West Indies sought to redeem themselves from a disappointing start to the series. Keeping his cool and playing with stroke play and temperament, Campbell negotiated the Indian bowlers with calmness and poise and proved his worth on one of the most challenging pitches for any visiting batsmen. 

Campbell’s innings was filled with elegant drives, quick singles, and laser-like focus. He crafted solid partnerships that gave the West Indies innings some much-needed stability in its foundations. His ability to read spin and match the pace of Indian conditions spoke to the vast improvement of his model as a Test player. The last West Indies opener to achieve this benchmark in India was Sherwin Campbell back in 2002, so undoubtedly, this performance would invoke a considerable reaction from the Caribbean cricket fans on a day when the universe seemed outside of his orbit. 

The century not only represented individual brilliance from John Campbell, but it also symbolizes hope for West Indies cricket. For the longest time, the region's openers have struggled playing in subcontinent conditions, but Campbell's hundred showed that the new generation is willing to put their hand up. His innings may encourage many young West Indian players to believe it is possible to find success through consistent hard work, even if it is in unfamiliar territory.

🚨 JOHN CAMPBELL - FIRST WEST INDIES OPENER IN 23 YEARS TO SCORE A TEST HUNDRED IN INDIA. 🚨 pic.twitter.com/vrgU0QB1rX

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 13, 2025

Also Read: ICC Women's ODI World Cup 2025: SA-W vs BAN-W Today Match Prediction– 14th Match, Who will win today?

A Moment to Remember 

John Campbell's century was not only about runs but also about character and confidence; facing world-class bowlers, he looked completely unfazed. With each shot played, he provided control and intent and assisted the team towards early momentum, with jubilant celebrations when noticing the three-figure mark. 

This innings will be remembered for more than just breaking a 23-year-long record, but for what belief, grit, and determination of the human spirit can achieve. Campbell's knock reminded the cricketing world that the Caribbean still has fire and fight left in a resurgent batting lineup, and the Caribbean spirit in Test cricket is indeed very much alive.

Mohammed Siraj has improved a lot since the days when he struggled with his bowling. Now, he is one of India’s top bowlers and helps the team win matches. In the recent five-match Test series against England, he took 23 wickets and played an important role in India drawing the series 2-2.

Mohammed Siraj’s Journey from Struggles to Success

But there was a time when things were tough for him. He used to leak runs and faced criticism and trolling on social media. “I was trolled when I didn’t bowl well in the IPL. If I performed, people praised me. If I didn’t, they would say, ‘Go ride the auto with your father,’” Siraj said.

Mohammed Siraj said, "when I joined the team, MS Dhoni told me, 'Don’t pay attention to what others say. When you are performing well the fans and the world will be with you and say there is no bowler like Siraj. In the next game, if you don’t perform, they will say go, ride the… pic.twitter.com/cQSKgDCB7U

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 6, 2025

He says MS Dhoni helped him deal with the pressure. “When I joined the Indian team, Dhoni told me not to worry about what people say. If you do well, everyone supports you. If you fail, some will abuse you,” he recalled. Dhoni’s advice stayed with him. “I realized that I don’t need outside praise. What matters are the opinions of my teammates and family.”

ALSO READ: AUS vs IND 2025: Fans rush as MCG T20I tickets sold out weeks before match day

Siraj’s journey is even more inspiring considering his family background. His father was an auto-rickshaw driver, and his mother worked hard to make ends meet. “I never thought I would play for India. We didn’t have much money. I used to give the money I earned from tennis-ball cricket to my parents,” he shared. Today, he credits his success to hard work, God, and the blessings of his parents.

Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar has criticized star batsman Shreyas Iyer for taking a six-month break from red-ball cricket. Vengsarkar was shocked when Iyer quoted fitness concerns for red-ball cricket but being perfectly fit for white-ball cricket. The 30-year-old Iyer has played 14 Tests for India, making 811 runs with an average of 36.86, including one century and five half-centuries.

Iyer played his last Test in February 2024 before being dropped on grounds of form and fitness issues. He has since played numerous red-ball games in domestic cricket. He was recently appointed captain of India A for the four-day series against Australia A but left the second game after participating in the first.

He was also expected to feature in the Rest of India squad for the Irani Cup and was in line for a potential return to the Indian Test team for the home series against the West Indies. However, Iyer requested a six-month break from red-ball cricket due to back concerns, which the BCCI approved. Secretary Devajit Saikia stated that the period would allow Iyer to build endurance and work on fitness levels.

Vengsarkar Questions Red-Ball Break

Despite the BCCI’s approval, Vengsarkar is unhappy with Iyer’s decision. Speaking to Mid-day, he said, “To be honest, it’s a dilemma for me, because he [Iyer] says that he is unfit for red-ball cricket but is fit for the white-ball cricket. I don’t understand the difference between red-ball cricket and white-ball cricket. I feel that if you are fit for white-ball cricket, you are obviously fit for red-ball cricket too. Choosing red-ball or white-ball and such things are beyond my comprehension.”

See Also: PCB considers Babar Azam recall amid doubts over Salman Ali Agha’s T20I form

Meanwhile, with Rohit Sharma recently sacked as India’s ODI captain, Shubman Gill was elevated to captain for the Australia tour, and Iyer was named his deputy. Legendary spinner Harbhajan Singh praised Iyer’s return to a leadership role, calling him an impact player. “I’m very happy for Shreyas Iyer. He’s one of those guys who hardly gets the credit he deserves. We talk about that World Cup in India, he scored back-to-back centuries, and with what pace! He’s an impact player; when he gets going, he makes things easy for the dressing room and the other batters. I’m happy he’s back in the scheme of things, not just as a player but with a bigger responsibility as vice-captain. I’m looking forward to seeing what he brings to the table in terms of ideas and how he and Shubman Gill take this team forward,” he added.

Ravindrasinh Jadeja, or fondly called 'Sir Jadeja', is a rare breed in the sport of cricket. Consistent, utility, and charismatic players like him seldom go unnoticed, bringing a great deal to the table by contributing immensely and efficiently. An all-rounder by nature, his bowling and batting skills are impeccable and immaculate. His energetic and rock-solid presence in the middle has often drained the opposition, effectively resulting in calmness amid chaos. While batting, his tenacious ability to hold one end and anchor the innings adds another element to his armoury that is unique to proper batters. A straight addition to any side in world cricket, the Gujarati player, also counted as one of the fittest players ever to grace the game, is three-dimensional, and his fielding prowess is second to none. Winning people over with his noble deeds, he now sits as one of the better players, if not the best, in the Indian cricketing fraternity. And the circuit needs a regular influx of more such characters who are synonymous with effervescence and full of class. 

With a sharp and elite mentality, supreme talent, stringent hard work, and precision skill-training, over the years, Jadeja has outstandingly nourished and championed his skills to perfection. Always invested in improvements, he has brought about an evolution in his test batting and developed the elegant art of patience. The southpaw's game awareness, leadership skills, temperament, and transactional style of play have transformed him into an assured batter who loves his profession as much as anything. Mastering the game magnificently and exceptionally has fetched him several team and personal accolades. Besides all recognition, the 2019 Arjun Award, India's second-highest sporting honour, etched his name as one of the greats, and currently, with glorious strides, he is building an inspiring legacy of his own. Moreover, presently, the left-hander deservedly holds the number one rank in the ICC test all-rounders' rankings. 

See Also: 4 Records Made by India on Day 3 of IND vs WI 2025 1st Test ft. Shubman Gill

Ravindra Jadeja's Test Batting Evolution

A player who has had a stellar 2025, so far, with the bat in his hands, Jadeja's sublime performances have consolidated the balance of the Indian side. With the recent retirements of some of the seniors, his stay at the crease has acted as a glue between the top and the lower order. His middle-order batting has eased the transition process, further allowing the youngsters to settle into the dynamics of the longest and toughest format of the game. Additionally, he has also acted as a bridge between the incumbents and the newcomers, making them feel adept around him. Having finished the England tour on a high as the fourth-highest run-scorer in the five-match test rubber, with an incredible average of 86 across 10 innings, and with some series-defining performances, he continued from where he left off. Scoring an unbeaten 104 runs and coupled with 4 wickets in the second innings of the first test at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, against the West Indies, the Indian all-rounder, bagging the man of the match title, had a stupendous start to the home season. On the way to the 6th ton of his test career, Jadeja reached a few milestones. His promising innings included 5 sixes, and that makes him the fourth-ranked Indian player for smashing the most sixes in test cricket. With a tally of 80 sixes in 86 matches, he now just trails Virender Sehwag, Rishabh Pant, and Rohit Sharma. He also possesses the most fifty-plus scores (7 in 7 games) in the format in the current year, yet.

HUNDRED BY THE VICE CAPTAIN. 🇮🇳

- A spectacular century by Sir Ravindra Jadeja. He’s having an unbelievable run in Test cricket. What a cricketer! 💯 pic.twitter.com/bCsp1p2yuq

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 3, 2025

When asked about his batting display during the post-match presentation, Jadeja had a few things to say - "Yeah, I have been working hard with my batting. We had a two-month off, there was no Test cricket or ODIs. I was working on my fitness, and I went to the Centre of Excellence in Bangalore, worked on my skills and fitness. Yeah, absolutely (on his recent batting form). I had been batting at number 8 and 9 a few years ago, but now I have my place at 6. I have time to prepare myself, and I can pace my innings. I don't need to hurry; I don't need to rush unnecessarily. I can go out there, take my time and just pace my innings. I always love playing on red soil pitches. It's fun because, as a spinner, you get more turns and bounce. So, always as a spinner, you want that. I think I was enjoying it, and as I got to know that we are playing on red soil, I thought it would be okay for batting and bowling as well. If the wicket is flat, you can score runs. If the ball is turning, then you can enjoy bowling on the red soil. Obviously, I would like to thank the coach, captain and management and selectors because, being the vice-captain, you are always there as a team's special member, and that honour always pleased me. And yeah, whenever the team requires, whatever suggestion or regarding anything, I am always there and happy to do it. No, I am still not there (on being asked if he was the leader of the spin bowling department). Ash was there. I am not the captain. Kuldeep has also played many games for India. Washi (Sundar) has also played many games. So I think all in all, everyone is experienced enough, and there's no need to give unnecessary suggestions to anyone. So everybody is working hard. Everyone is positive. That's good to see."

Ravindra Jadeja's Test Batting Stats

Since 2021, across 36 tests, the Indian maverick has been the leading scorer (2064 runs) and wicket-taker (118 wickets) among the top all-rounders.

Jadeja attributes his batting evolution, the richness in form, the decisiveness towards calculated risks, and the consequent recent purple patch to clarity and stability. A fixed batting position, instead of being fluid, has allowed him to train specifically and against certain challenges thrown by red-ball cricket. The quality of batting longer than usual and with more responsibility is courtesy of intense training and seniority in the team, respectively. The recurring practice sessions, hitting and middling ball after ball, visualising opponent field positions, hunting gaps, and simulating match scenarios, have all strengthened his anatomy while improving his cricketing mettle. Sustaining such intended routines can only make him and the Indian cricket team progress leaps and bounds. If so, fans would get to witness the Saurashtra player's sword-show celebration match after match.

Like any player, Jadeja has had his ups and downs, but he never quit. There was a time in the first half of his international career when his place in the Indian team was unsecured, and he was even dropped. However, his resilience and determination kept him going through serious injuries and lean phases. Nothing deterred him, and all those hardships have culminated in one of the most decorated and successful cricketers of all time, in Ravindra Jadeja, or aptly known as 'Sir Jadeja'. 

Team India batter Shreyas Iyer has apparently decided to take a break from red-ball cricket due to ongoing workload and injury issues. The 29-year-old has been having problems with recurring back injuries and has made known his decision to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), meaning he is now almost certain to miss the upcoming two-match Test series against the West Indies.

Iyer's injury issues are well-known, as his back problem required surgery in 2023, but he has returned to regular cricket since the Asia Cup that same year. However, given the demand red-ball cricket puts on an athlete's body, questions will remain over his long-term future in red-ball cricket. A BCCI source explained, "He has let us know he will take a break from red-ball cricket. The selectors are now clearer regarding his future, and he will look at how his body reacts with the assistance of trainers and physiotherapists."

For Iyer, the move makes sense for several reasons:

1. Safeguarding his white-ball future

Iyer continues to be India's preferred No.4 in ODIs and is on the cusp of returning to T20Is. With two white-ball tournaments on the horizon, including the T20 World Cup, Iyer can prioritize the white-ball formats where he is now able to remain a crucial part of the team, and thus, hopefully, he will not have to take a longer injury break.

ALSO SEE: [WATCH] 'Out of natural position...'- Aakash Chopra gives advice to struggling Sanju Samson during Asia Cup 2025

2. Avoiding further injury setbacks

Recruitment has shown that Iyer's back issues are aggravated by Test cricket. Being reminded of the red-ball injuries that led him to miss the 2023 IPL is a cautionary tale to consider. By withdrawing from the Tests, Iyer is better able to manage his workload and to be available for the formats where India really needs him.

3. A positive result for both player and selectors

Iyer's leaving out of the selection debate for the Tests only strengthens the debate, as there is rich bench strength in India's middle-order. For Iyer, it gives a no-excuses closure, and he can fully focus on limited-overs cricket with no red-ball constraints. Ultimately, Iyer's departure does not feel like a step back but a necessary move towards a longer playing career. With a narrower focus on ODIs and T20S, we can expect to see a sharper and more decisive version of Iyer when India approaches the important white-ball phase.