Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer Likely to Attend BCCI Review Meeting After Poor UK Tour

Board Calls Emergency Review After Series Losses

The Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) in India has called a review meeting at its Mumbai headquarters on Thursday to assess India’s recent performances and discuss the team’s roadmap going forward. Head coach Gautam Gambhir, chief selector Ajit Agarkar, and Centre of Excellence head VVS Laxman will attend the meeting. There is also a possibility that T20 captain Shreyas Iyer and ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill will be present. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and president Mithun Manhas will also attend.

Multiple Tours Under the Scanner

The review was originally planned after India’s defeats in Ireland and England but was postponed because of the team’s two-Test tour of Sri Lanka. The reigning T20 World Cup champions lost the two-match T20I series in Ireland 2-0 in June. The poor run continued in England, where India lost the five-match T20I series 4-0. The 125-run defeat in Nottingham was the team’s biggest loss of the series. Under Gill’s captaincy, India also lost the ODI series in England 2-1.

A source revealed that the review will not be limited to those tours. The tours of Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka will also be reviewed. India had played a T20I series against Zimbabwe before the Ireland tour, and the results from those matches will also be examined.

Read More: India vs Afghanistan T20I Series: Hits and Misses of the Indian Squad

Focus on Injury Management and Player Availability

The meeting is also expected to focus on player injury management ahead of India’s upcoming Test assignments. India will travel to New Zealand in November for a two-Test series, and the BCCI wants to review the growing number of injury concerns in the squad. After the third ODI against England at Lord’s, Gill had expressed frustration over frequent injuries affecting the team during overseas tours.

Jasprit Bumrah missed the Sri Lanka tour after aggravating his left knee injury. Even for India’s T20I series against Afghanistan, announced on Tuesday, the availability of four players is still uncertain. Bumrah, Washington Sundar, Nitish Reddy, and Harshit Rana are scheduled to undergo fitness tests at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru on September 9.

What Lies Ahead for Team India

The meeting is expected to address the team’s performance issues and find ways to improve results in overseas conditions. With important tours coming up, including the New Zealand Tests, the BCCI is keen to ensure that the squad is fully prepared and fit for the challenges ahead. The presence of both captains at the meeting suggests that leadership will be a key part of the discussion. The board is looking to build a clear roadmap for the team, and this review is the first step in that direction.

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