India skipper Virat Kohli and head coach Ravi Shastri could be subjected to some intense grilling from the BCCI following the team’s disappointing performances in the first two Tests against England.
After losing the first Test at Edgbaston by 31 runs, Kohli’s men were blown away by more than an innings in the second match at Lord’s. The third Test in the five-match series gets underway at Trent Bridge on August 18 and another defeat there could see the coach and skipper come under the BCCI’s crosshairs.
“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 as saying by the PTI (Press Trust of India) on condition of anonymity.
Team management has come under fire following the Lord’s defeat.
“We arranged white-ball matches first. It was on the senior team’s insistence that we send the India ‘A’ team during the same time starting the concept of ‘Shadow Tour’. Two senior India players (Murali 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.
“Don’t forget under Shastri and current support staff, we have lost major Test series in Australia (in 2014-15), South Africa (in 2017-18). Now we are in dire straits in England.”
The Kohli and Shastri combo has been given a free hand when it comes to team selections but their power has been questioned by various quarters following India’s meek surrender in the two Tests so far.