Mumbai, June 5 -- Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin said that for India to improve in Test cricket, first-class cricket should be attractive enough for players to take it up, and the problem about incentivising the longest format is a global one, rather than being restricted to India.

Ashwin was speaking on Cricinfor Honours Awards 2026. The question comes when India's Test cricket performances are in crisis. In back-to-back years, 2024 and 2025, India has suffered morale-shattering whitewash losses to New Zealand and South Africa at home, with the former ending India's home dominance of 12 years. Other than a valiant 2-2 draw against England away from home, there has been very little to cheer up Indian fans in the longest form...