Five months after defending the T20 World Cup title in Ahmedabad, India’s men’s team is dealing with a sharp change in mood. The side that finished that campaign with heavy batting performances in the semifinal and final has since run into poor results, injuries and questions over selection and workload management.
The World Cup win came under Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy. India became the first team to win the tournament on home soil, and the campaign ended with team totals above 250 in both the semifinal and the final. But the attention soon shifted to the IPL, where 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s performances became a major talking point.
Once the IPL ended, India’s T20 form dipped badly. The first major setback came in Ireland in late June. India, playing with a full-strength squad and a new captain in Shreyas Iyer, lost the T20I series 2-0. Ireland won the first match comfortably and then held on for a one-run victory in the second.
The response did not come in England. Harry Brook’s team won the series 4-0, with the first match washed out. For Shreyas and head coach Gautam Gambhir, the tour offered little relief after the Ireland defeat.
Zimbabwe sweep gave brief relief
India’s only clear recovery in this period came in Zimbabwe, where V.V.S. Laxman stood in as head coach. India won the three-match series 3-0 at the Harare Sports Club. Given the defeats in Ireland and England, even an expected result carried some value for a side looking to steady itself.
That recovery, however, has not removed the wider concerns. India now moves into another World Test Championship assignment with a two-Test tour of Sri Lanka. The timing is difficult because several players are unavailable and the squad has already lost its most important fast bowler.
Bumrah ruled out after knee injury
Jasprit Bumrah was named in the squad subject to a fitness test at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Left-handed batter Sai Sudharsan was also selected with the same condition attached. Bumrah has since been ruled out as he has not fully recovered from an impact injury to his left knee.
The injury happened while he was fielding in the second ODI against England in Cardiff about three weeks ago. His absence is a major setback for India. Bumrah’s control and wicket-taking ability often change the balance of a Test match, and his pressure from one end can help other bowlers attack from the other.
Without him, India will need the rest of the attack to carry more responsibility in Sri Lanka. Captain Shubman Gill will have to find wickets without the bowler who is usually India’s most reliable option across conditions.
Injury list adds to selection pressure
Bumrah is not the only concern. All-rounders Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar, along with pacer Harshit Rana, had already been ruled out before the selectors met to pick the squad. Rana has been viewed by Gautam Gambhir as a player who could be developed into an all-round option.
The growing injury list has also brought attention back to India’s injury management system. The Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru has become an easy target for criticism, but the source account points out that responsibility also rests with those working closely with players in the national setup. Regular monitoring of players who are active in international cricket remains a key issue.
Agarkar’s future also under discussion
There is also uncertainty around chief selector Ajit Agarkar. According to the source account, talk has grown that his tenure may end in the next month or so. It also says Agarkar had informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India as early as February that he wanted to be relieved of his duties in September, though the reason is unclear.
Agarkar became chairman of the senior selection committee in mid-2023. His term has included major highs in white-ball cricket, including two T20 World Cup wins. But recent results have brought pressure, especially after the 6-0 combined T20I run across Ireland and England.
India’s Test results at home have also been a concern. The team lost 0-3 to New Zealand in October-November 2024 and 0-2 to South Africa in November last year. Those defeats have raised questions about India’s batting against spin at home, an area once treated as a strength.
The Sri Lanka Tests now arrive at a time when India need stability. The squad is missing key players, the T20 side has taken recent hits, and the selection setup is under scrutiny. A strong performance would not answer every question, but it would at least give the team some control after a difficult few months.
Source: The Hindu Cricket.