After India went down 3-1 to Australia in the much hyped Border- Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 , one surely expected the BCCI to take tough calls keeping in mind the future. But sadly like in the past umpteenth times the so called review meet that reportedly took place in Mumbai ended as a damp squib.
Skipper Rohit Sharma will take his time when to retire. So too will be batting mainstay and superstar Virat Kohli . Both the iconic duo had a torrid time in Australia. A series Team India would like to forget . That too after fine start winning the first Test at Perth by 295 runs.
And the reasons for the annihilation is clear – Bizarre team selection as no one knew who was in and out , batting flopped miserably . Rishabh Pant played some daring cameos, Nitish Kumar Reddy impressed with bat and the ball. Yashasvi Jaiswal played well on his debut tour . K L Rahul too chipped in . But it was simply not enough against the relentless Aussie pace attack – Skipper Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc , Scott Boland ( a super substitute for injured Josh Hazlewood) were red hot and India just could not handle them . Indian batting wilted and Aussies had the last laugh.
The only bright spark in the series was the bowling of Jasprit Bumrah. 32 wickets is no mean achievement. He kept India in the series literally had not for him the score- line which ended at 3-1 could have been 4-1 . Moreover, It was rain hai toh safe hai in Brisbane for Team India . As persistent rain forced the match to end in draw .
That the Skipper Rohit Sharma and Head Coach Gautam Gambhir were not on the same page was clear as Rohit sat out / opted out god knows what conversations he had with the team management from the Sydney Test. Seasoned spinner Ravichandran Ashwin retiring in middle of the series raised quite eyebrows as well. Many questioned the timing . That the team went ahead with Washington Sundar after Perth Test might have hurt him. At 38 one is not expected to warm the benches. It proved the the lack of communication between the players. That too when chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar was with the team .
BCCI president Roger Binny’s silence on the debacle in Australia is mystery. Captain coach at loggerheads , senior spinner Ashwin retires mid- way yet no comments is astounding. It may well be the richest cricket Board but as far as communication is concerned it is in pitiable state.
News anchors went ballistic after India went down in Australia each shouting accountability and some even suggesting the likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to retire to pave the way for generation next . BCCI under fire was brazen enough to put aside the loss. All big talk of accountability / honest review became a zero.
A review meeting turned tout to be a occasion to the felicitate Jay Shah for his new ICC role he had assumed charge . And BCCI’s forever go- to man and never to retire vice- president Rajeev Shukla instead of announcing any major decision on Australia loss , goes ahead and announces dates of Tata IPL 2025 from March 21 to May 25 . With Eden Gardens Kolkata hosting both the opener and the final .
So what happened to BCCI’s favourite venue – Narendra Modi stadium, Ahmedabad?. Is it overkill or deliberate move after the crowds absolutely shocking behaviour during the ICC 2023, 50 over World Cup final between India and Australia on November 19. The reason for the snub .
Aussie debacle forgotten as predicted , it’s business as usual for the BCCI now with the team’s announcement for the England T20 five match series and Three- ODI’s . Champions Trophy follows next from February 19. So, viewers the so called change/ future vision stays on hold for now .
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