New Delhi, July 26, 2026
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to conduct a comprehensive review of the Indian cricket team’s recent performances in Ireland, England, and Zimbabwe early next month . The review meeting, scheduled for August, comes after a string of disappointing results on the UK tour, including a first-ever T20I series defeat to Ireland and a 4-0 loss (with one match abandoned) to England.
Disappointing UK Tour Results
The Indian team’s white-ball campaign in the United Kingdom proved challenging. Following their T20 World Cup triumph just four months ago, the Men in Blue suffered two consecutive T20I series losses against Ireland and England, managing only a solitary win in the ODI series against England . BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the review meeting will cover all recent white-ball matches, describing the performance as “a bad phase” rather than a crisis.
Coaching Staff Under Scrutiny
The review is expected to evaluate the contracts of support staff working under head coach Gautam Gambhir . While Gambhir’s position is reportedly secure given India’s victories in the 2025 Champions Trophy and 2026 T20 World Cup, the future of some coaching staff members remains uncertain .
Assistant Coach Ryan ten Doeschate has reportedly requested to step down from his role for personal reasons, seeking a position with less travel to spend more time with his family based in London . His initial two-year contract has concluded, and his request may be accepted .
Fielding Coach T. Dilip is also under significant pressure following India’s subpar fielding performances during the UK tour. Reports indicate he is unlikely to receive a contract extension, despite being a popular member of the support staff known for introducing the ‘Best Fielder Medal’.
India’s catching efficiency during the T20 World Cup was the lowest among all participating nations at just 72%, and fielding lapses continued during the England tour .
In contrast, bowling coach Morne Morkel is expected to continue, with the BCCI reportedly keen to retain his services given the improvement in India’s bowling attack under his guidance .
Gavaskar Warns Against Hasty Decisions
Legendary former captain Sunil Gavaskar has urged the BCCI to avoid knee-jerk reactions following the team’s poor showing. In his Sportstar column, Gavaskar cautioned that “a few heads could roll” and warned that such drastic action would be “an extreme step, for barely four months ago India were the world champions and still are No. 2 in the ICC rankings” . He attributed the batting struggles to technical issues against short-pitched bowling rather than simply blaming the batting-friendly IPL pitches.
Meanwhile, a second-string Indian team under the coaching of VVS Laxman and captained by Shreyas Iyer has already clinched the T20I series against Zimbabwe with one match remaining . The final T20I is scheduled to be played on Sunday in Harare . Gambhir and his full support staff were given rest for this tour.
The BCCI review meeting in August will involve head coach Gautam Gambhir, captain Shreyas Iyer, selectors, and senior BCCI officials, with discussions focusing on team selection, tactical planning, and the broader roadmap leading up to the 2027 ODI World Cup.