BCCI to review India T20 team after defeats in Ireland and England

LONDON: India’s cricket board will assess the national T20 side after a sharp downturn in results that has seen the reigning world champions lose back-to-back series in Ireland and England, Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary Devajit Saikia said on Friday.

India suffered a nine-wicket loss in the fourth T20 against England in Bristol on Thursday, leaving the hosts with an unassailable 3-0 advantage in the five-match series after the opening game was washed out. The result extended India’s losing run to five matches, following a 2-0 series defeat in Ireland last month.

Saikia said the BCCI would hold a meeting once the England tour concludes on July 19 to examine the reasons behind the team’s performances. Speaking by telephone to AFP from Edinburgh, where he is attending the International Cricket Council’s annual conference, he said the board was monitoring the side closely.

He said "The BCCI is currently observing the performance of the Indian T20 team which has not been up to the mark in the ongoing series against England".

Saikia added "We will have a review meeting with the core members of the team to discuss what went wrong in England."

Heavy defeats after World Cup triumph

India won the T20 World Cup in March, but their form has dropped markedly since then. In Bristol, they posted 158-7 before England chased the target with nine wickets in hand and more than six overs remaining. The defeat came shortly after India were bowled out for 76 in Nottingham, their heaviest defeat in T20 cricket by 125 runs.

Saikia described the run as temporary rather than unusual in international cricket.

He said "This is not something abnormal and can happen in international cricket. We consider it as a purely bad phase".

India, coached by Gautam Gambhir, have been without fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and all-rounder Hardik Pandya because of workload and injury-management concerns. Their 15-year-old debutant Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has also found it difficult to make an impact so far, registering scores of 14, 13 and 15 in his first three innings.

India and England are due to meet in the fifth and final T20 in Southampton on Saturday, before moving on to a three-match One-day International series.