BCCI’s Saikia admits India’s overseas struggles after Ireland, England defeats

The BCCI secretary, Devajit Saikia, has acknowledged that Indian cricket needs to reflect on its recent poor performance in overseas matches. This comes after India lost 2-0 to Ireland and 4-0 to England in T20I series, as well as a 2-1 defeat in the ODI series against England.

Speaking following a BCCI review meeting in Mumbai, Saikia stated that the team’s results require the board to explore reasons behind their struggles and plan better for future tours. He mentioned that strategies have been discussed to improve India’s performance in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia).

Saikia emphasized that the priority is to build the strongest possible team for the 2027 ODI World Cup, scheduled for late next year. He highlighted the challenges of balancing player workload and health, particularly after key players like Jasprit Bumrah and Harshit Rana sustained injuries during a packed schedule.

The BCCI aims to create opportunities for practice matches before major tours in SENA countries to help players adapt to conditions. Saikia also noted that the current cricket calendar is too demanding, leading to player fatigue. The board plans to adjust future schedules to ensure adequate rest and acclimatization periods.

India recently won a two-match Test series against Sri Lanka and will next face Afghanistan in a three-match T20I series starting on 13 September. They will then travel to New Zealand for several matches before hosting Australia early next year.