BCCI to review recent white-ball setbacks

Mumbai

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will undertake a comprehensive review of the national team’s recent white-ball setbacks, with a meeting involving the game’s key decision-makers scheduled towards the end of July after the conclusion of India’s ongoing tour to England.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that the meeting will bring together the board hierarchy and the team’s principal stakeholders to chart the roadmap towards the next year’s ODI World Cup in South Africa and the defence of the T20 World Cup title in Australia and New Zealand in 2028.

Describing India’s successive T20I series defeats in Ireland and England as “a bad phase” rather than a cause for panic, Saikia stressed that the exercise would be a “performance review” rather than a knee-jerk reaction.

The defeats, under new T20I captain Shreyas Iyer following the omission of World Cup-winning skipper Suryakumar Yadav, have renewed concerns over India’s ability to adapt to challenging overseas conditions. With the next two limited overs World Cups to be played in conditions markedly different from the batting-friendly surfaces at home, the review is expected to focus on building a squad capable of succeeding across conditions.

Head coach Gautam Gambhir, chief selector Ajit Agarkar, T20I captain Shreyas and ODI captain Shubman Gill are expected to be part of the discussions as the BCCI attempts to align the vision of the selection committee and the team management.

Selection policy, too, is likely to come under scrutiny. The decision to replace Sanju Samson with teenage opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi — first in the T20I squad and subsequently for the Zimbabwe series — has drawn criticism, especially with neither batter making a significant impact in the limited opportunities they have received.

It is understood that the BCCI’s priority will be to ensure greater synergy between the selectors and the team management, with a clear long-term strategy aimed at preserving India’s white-ball supremacy while improving its adaptability in overseas conditions.