The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reportedly conducted a six-hour marathon exhaustive review of the recent embarrassing whitewash that India faced against New Zealand in the three-Test series.
India lost all three Tests of a series for the first-time ever at home and it was the first time India got whitewashed in Tests since 2000. New Zealand also ended India’s unbeaten streak of 18 consecutive Test series wins as they pocketed the series 3-0.
Skipper Rohit Sharma, chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar, and head coach Gambhir were all present, along with BCCI secretary Jay Shah and president Roger Binny. Gambhir attended the meeting online. It has been discovered that the questions were posed about specific actions made by the team management during the course of the series.
There were also conversations regarding Gambhir's coaching style, which differs significantly from his predecessor Rahul Dravid's, and how the team is adapting to it.
Meanwhile two of the main points that were debated was why pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was rested for the third and final Test in Mumbai. The second was why the team management requested rank turners despite their poor track record on such type of pitches.
"It was a six hour marathon meeting which was obviously on cards after such a debacle. India are going on a tour of Australia and the BCCI would obviously like to ensure that the team is back on track and would like to know how the think-tank (Gambhir-Rohit-Agarkar) are going about it," a senior BCCI source privy to development told PTI.
India had lost badly in the second Test in Pune on a spin friendly wicket and the BCCI is seemingly baffled why the Indian team management asked for similar kind of pitch in third and final Test in Mumbai.
"Bumrah's absence was discussed although it was a precautionary move. Opting for a rank turner despite India not faring well on these tracks are some of the issues that came up for discussion," the source informed.
The trio was asked to make suggestions on how corrective measures may be implemented.
It is unclear whether Gambhir's coaching style was questioned, but it is thought that some members of the Indian team think tank disagree with the head coach.
With only ten Ranji Trophy matches, the selection of T20 specialist all-rounder Nitish Reddy and rookie pacer Harshit Rana for the Australia Test tour have been far from unanimous.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT 2024) will begin on November 22 in Perth and Indian squad will leave for Australia in two batches on November 10 and 11.
(PTI inputs)
