Indian captain Virat Kohli and head coach Ravi Shastri may well have to answer to the BCCI when they return from the England tour following the humiliating innings and 159 defeat at Lord’s.
The team’s repeated failures in foreign conditions may well see wholesome changes, if the level of performance is not improved in the next three matches. The squad for the fourth and fifth match will also be selected after the conclusion of the third game. It makes the third Test match at Trent Bridge the most important for the entire squad in England and may well decide the course of action for the cricket body.
“The Indian team can’t complain that they were not given enough time to prepare. When we lost the South Africa series, the players spoke about tight scheduling and lack of practice games. It was after speaking to them that we decided that white ball matches will be held before the Tests,” a senior BCCI official was quoted by PTI.
“We arranged white ball matches first. It was on the senior team’s insistence that we send India A team during the same time starting the concept of ‘Shadow Tour’. Two senior India players (M Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane) were accommodated for A team games. Whatever they wanted, they were provided. Now if results don’t come, the Board is well within its rights to ask questions,” the official added.
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Team India’s pathetic situation in abroad was also brought up by the member who said, “Don’t forget under Shastri and current support staff, we have lost major Test series in Australia (0-2 in 2014-15), South Africa (1-2 in 2017-18). Now we are in dire straits in England.”
“If you remember, BCCI removed Duncan Fletcher’s assistants Joe Dawes (bowling coach) and Trevor Penny (fielding coach) after India lost the Test series 1-3 in England. Shastri became the Director along with Sanjay Bangar, R Sridhar and Bharat Arun joining the support staff before the ODI series,” the official added.
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Questions regarding the complete freedom of both Kohli and Shastri in choosing the team were also raised by the official who said that their powers will be cut-down after the disastrous tour of England.
In the last three times, India has visited England, they have lost nine matches including the two this year and has managed to win just one Test match that came at Lord’s in 2014.
Another BCCI official blamed the lack of team spirit and bonding as one of the main reasons for the disastrous campaign in England.
“What is happening on the field is a result of the indiscipline shown off the field. Why are the players not staying, living as a team? Why does half team travel in a bus, rest in a train? Where is the team spirit? If this keeps happening, results like this are bound to show,” said the official.