BCCI to review India's UK performance in August

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will conduct a review of the Indian team's performances in Ireland, England and Zimbabwe early next month, and also decide on the contracts of a couple members of the support staff under head coach Gautam Gambhir. Speaking to Cricbuzz on Saturday (July 25), BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the review will cover all the white-ball matches in recent times, particularly those in Ireland and England, where the Indian team virtually drew a blank, barring a solitary win in one ODI against England. "We will hold the review meeting in August," the BCCI secretary said, without divulging the exact date. India suffered their first-ever defeat to Ireland in Belfast last month in the two-match T20I series, before going on to lose four of the five T20Is against England, with one match being abandoned. It marked a massive reversal of fortune after March's World Cup high, under the new skipper, Shreyas Iyer. In the three-match ODI series in England, India, under Shubman Gill lost 1-2 to Harry Brook's side. However, India, as expected, went on to clinch the ongoing T20I series in Zimbabwe. Saikia did not elaborate on the scope of the review but confirmed that the BCCI would look into the contracts of a couple of members of the support staff. Cricbuzz had already reported that assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has requested the BCCI <a href="/cricket-news/139545/india-cricket-team-assistant-coach-ryan-ten-doeschate-seeks-exit-head-coach-gautam-gambhir-yet-to-sign-off-cricbuzzcom" class="text-cbTextLink">to be relieved of his duties</a>. Doeschate has completed his initial two-year contract, and there is a possibility that his request will be accepted. There is, however, no immediate clarity on the future of fielding coach T Dilip, who has come under scrutiny, particularly because India's fielding and catching have been below par during the tour of the UK. <b>Nitish doubtful for SL Tests</b> Saikia also revealed that the squad for the away Test series against Sri Lanka will be picked on Tuesday, and the meeting, in all likelihood, will be conducted virtually. India will play two Tests, in Galle and Colombo, from August 15 to 27. The squad is unlikely to be much different from the one that played against Afghanistan under Gill in June, except for a couple of minor changes. The focus of the selection meeting will be whether Jasprit Bumrah will be picked for the series. While he is likely to be picked, as is Mohammed Siraj, who led the attack against Afghanistan in the absence of Bumrah, the more seminal point is whether the selectors will finally give Auqib Nabi, the leading wicket taker in the last Ranji season, a chance in the squad. Meanwhile, it is understood that Nitish Kumar Reddy, who was part of the squad for the New Chandigarh Test in June, has been undergoing rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru for the quadriceps injury he suffered last month, and is unlikely to be picked. One of the few all-format players in the Indian set-up, Reddy has started bowling at the Bengaluru facility, but sources say it would be too early for him to be considered for the five-day matches. He is, though, expected to be ready for the slew of white-ball matches scheduled in September. Reddy last played for India in the third and final ODI against Afghanistan in Chennai in June.