The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to conduct a comprehensive performance review of the men’s national cricket team. This decision follows a significant T20 International series defeat against England, which has placed head coach Gautam Gambhir under increased scrutiny.
The review comes after India experienced a nine-wicket loss in the fourth T20I at Bristol, giving England an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. An earlier fixture in the series was washed out. This series marks India‘s second consecutive bilateral series loss in the format.
Series struggles and leadership changes
Under the new captaincy of Shreyas Iyer, India‘s performance in England mirrored earlier difficulties on the tour. The team had previously lost the second match by four wickets and suffered a substantial 125-run defeat in the third game. In that match, India‘s batting order collapsed to just 76 runs while chasing a target of 202, marking their second-lowest T20I total in history.
This downturn follows a period of leadership transition within the team. The BCCI had recently replaced captain Suryakumar Yadav, entrusting the captaincy to Iyer, who had not played for the national side for nearly two years. This change was made after India‘s success in back-to-back World Cup triumphs, during which the team adopted a modern batting approach.
Before the England series, India also lost a series 2-0 against Ireland, marking the first time the team had been defeated by the Irish side in a series.
Gambhir’s tactical approach questioned
The recent performances have brought Gautam Gambhir‘s coaching strategies into question. In the Trent Bridge defeat, India was bowled out for 76, their fastest dismissal in the format, with no batter scoring 20 runs. Iyer had stated after this match that he believed the team could not sink any further, but two days later, India lost again at Bristol.
In Bristol, England chased down 159 runs in 13.5 overs. Harry Brook scored 79 off 35 balls, and Phil Salt contributed 59 off 42 deliveries, leading England to a historic first-ever bilateral T20I series win against India in a multi-match format.
The team’s inability to adapt to conditions has been identified as a core failing across both series. Batters reportedly continued to use the same methods regardless of pitch requirements, struggling when the ball moved in the air or off the seam. This approach, which involved swinging across the line, proved ineffective in both Ireland and England.
Questions have also been raised regarding team selection and roles. These include the positioning of Tilak Varma, the role of Shivam Dube, the preference for left-handed batters, the frequent changes in the bowling attack, and the inclusion of Washington Sundar in the playing eleven.
Iyer, after the Bristol match, described the team as being in transition and requested patience. He expressed confidence that the team would eventually come together. The final match of the series will see India aiming to salvage pride, while England seeks a dominant sweep.
The BCCI‘s review aims to evaluate the team’s recent output.
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Source: indiatoday.in
Arjun Sharma
Sports Reporter