2024 was a year of significant fluctuations for India, particularly in the realm of Test cricket. The year commenced positively with a victory in South Africa, allowing them to equalize that series. This was followed by a decisive 4-1 triumph over England, achieved despite the absence of several key players.

However, the latter part of the year told a contrasting tale, as India managed only one win, and one draw, and suffered six losses in their final eight Test matches. The year concluded with a disappointing 3-0 defeat at home against New Zealand, marking a significant decline as it ended India's 12-year unbeaten streak on home soil. This was compounded by a disheartening 3-1 defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, resulting in India losing the trophy to their rivals for the first time in ten years.

Notably, this was the first instance in 46 years that India experienced three consecutive series losses, underscoring the rarity of such a situation for the Indian team. The last occurrence was during the 1976-77 season when India lost 3-1 to England at home, followed by a challenging tour of Australia in 1977-78, where they faced a dramatic 3-2 defeat against a team that was missing several players due to the Kerry Packer World Series of Cricket.

Narrow defeats are becoming a recurring theme for India

During the notorious tour of 2011-12, India faced a disheartening experience, suffering a 4-0 whitewash against both England and Australia. However, under the leadership of MS Dhoni, the team managed to secure a few victories in a home series against the West Indies.

This year is frequently regarded as one of the most challenging periods for Indian Test cricket in recent memory, primarily due to the team's lacklustre performances. There is a similar sense of disappointment this year, especially considering India's status as favourites, particularly in their matches against New Zealand.

In the 2014-15 season, India came close to a better outcome, narrowly losing a competitive series 3-1 to England before travelling to Australia, where they fell behind 2-0 after losing the first two matches. Nevertheless, with some remarkable contributions from Virat Kohli, India managed to secure two draws, thereby avoiding an even more unfavourable outcome.

The recent streak of six consecutive losses has significantly impacted India's standing, effectively eliminating them from contention. The team's attention will now shift to the upcoming Champions Trophy. India's next Test challenge will be a five-match series in England, with hopes that they can break free from this disappointing trend.

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