Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Jul 26: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will review the Indian team's recent performances in Ireland, England and Zimbabwe during a meeting scheduled for August. The board will also assess the contracts of some members of the support staff under head coach Gautam Gambhir.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the review would cover India's recent white-ball campaigns, particularly the disappointing tours of Ireland and England.
"We will hold the review meeting in August," Saikia told Cricbuzz, without specifying the date.
India endured a difficult run in Ireland, suffering their first-ever T20I defeat to the hosts in Belfast during the two-match series. The team then lost four of the five T20Is against England, with one match abandoned, marking a sharp decline after their successful World Cup campaign earlier this year under new T20I captain Shreyas Iyer.
In the subsequent ODI series, India, led by Shubman Gill, went down 1-2 to England under Harry Brook. However, the team has bounced back by winning the ongoing T20I series against Zimbabwe.
Saikia also confirmed that the BCCI would review the contracts of certain support staff members.
According to reports, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has requested to be relieved of his duties after completing his initial two-year contract, and the board is expected to consider his request. The future of fielding coach T Dilip also remains uncertain following criticism of India's below-par fielding performances during the UK tour.
Meanwhile, Saikia said the national selectors will pick the squad for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka on Tuesday, with the meeting likely to be held virtually.
India will play Tests in Galle and Colombo from August 15 to 27.
The squad is expected to remain largely unchanged from the one that faced Afghanistan in June, with selectors likely to deliberate on the inclusion of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who is expected to return alongside Mohammed Siraj.
Selectors are also expected to consider rewarding pacer Auqib Nabi, the leading wicket-taker in the previous Ranji Trophy season, with a maiden call-up.
All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, however, is unlikely to be available for the Sri Lanka Tests as he continues rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru after suffering a quadriceps injury last month.
Although Reddy has resumed bowling, sources indicated that it would be premature for him to return to red-ball cricket. He is expected to regain full fitness ahead of India's white-ball assignments scheduled for September.