By Balwinder Singh Sandhu

Indian cricket is entering a worrying phase—one where the once-unshakeable habit of winning, particularly in Test cricket, appears to be slipping away. When a team begins to forget how to win, the decline does not start with skill or talent; it begins with belief. Self-belief weakens first, and once that cracks, the collective purpose of the team gradually gives way to individual ambitions. Players begin to look inward, prioritising personal milestones and career extensions over the team’s long-term goals.

For any head coach or support staff, this is the toughest environment to operate in. Internal disagreements flare up, egos clash and players subtly undermine one another in their pursuit of security or recognition. Politics seeps into discussions, even into selection, and the dressing room loses its sense of unity.

Having coached different teams across my career, I have witnessed this shift more than once. When a head coach tries to course-correct, he inevitably has to confront senior players—especially those determined to extend their careers even if it means blocking promising young cricketers waiting for their chance.

In the modern game, with the financial rewards on offer, the temptation for ageing players to hold on a little longer has only intensified. Some seniors even resort to exerting pressure on juniors, denting their confidence and pushing them into self-doubt. In such a scenario, the youngster pays the price, the team suffers and, ironically, the senior player emerges with his position reinforced.

At present, the Indian team stands dangerously close to such a tipping point. A few more losses could push them into a spiral that would be difficult to recover from. This is a moment that demands absolute alignment between the chairman of selectors, head coach, captain and vice-captain. Together, they need the courage to take decisions that may be uncomfortable but necessary.

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Trimming the squad of complacency and ego is crucial, yet this process invariably creates friction. Self-focused players often try to rely on “power centres” or mentors to protect their positions, and that is when vote-bank dynamics begin to distort selection.

This is precisely why a strong and independent Chairman of Selectors is invaluable. During my coaching tenures with Mumbai and Baroda, I had the privilege of working alongside respected figures like Dilip Vengsarkar and Kiran More. Equally instrumental were the captains I worked with—calm, sharp leaders like Sanjay Manjrekar and Jacob Martin—men who could steer a team with clarity and conviction. They ensured that the team pursued one common goal, while still giving space for individual excellence to flourish within the team’s larger blueprint.

Our success often came from what I describe as “guerrilla warfare”—a sharp, situational strategy built on quick adaptation. Attack fiercely after a wicket, pull back when a batter settles, choke runs and force errors. I vividly remember the day-night Mumbai-Delhi final in Gwalior, where injuries left us with only three bowlers. Delhi believed they had the match sealed, yet our bowlers clung to the plan, tightened the pressure and turned the game around.

Mumbai had the advantage of depth, but Baroda seldom did. Still, the players executed the blueprint with unwavering discipline. Every spell—whether yielding wickets or not—was valued for its role in the bigger picture. Commitment, not numbers, drove the unit.

That was the foundation of our success: limited resources, complete trust and an unshakeable team-first mindset. Fielding, discipline, partnerships, unity—these were our pillars. Much of this ethos was inherited from the greats we watched growing up. The famed Mumbai “khadoos” culture—built on resilience, intelligence and relentless grit—became the backbone of our cricketing ethos, and it continues to explain why Mumbai cricket has stayed ahead for generations.

(Balwinder Singh Sandhu is a former Indian cricketer who represented the country in eight Test matches as a medium-pace bowler and was also a member of India’s 1983 World Cup-winning team).

As told to Joe Williams