Ahead Of T20 World Cup, India Lags Behind In Preparation As A Unit
Even as other cricketing nations are learning to gel as a team ahead of the T20 World Cup in October-November by playing multiple limited-overs games, especially T20 Internationals, the Indians are ba
Even as other cricketing nations are learning to gel as a team ahead of the T20 World Cup in October-November by playing multiple limited-overs games, especially T20 Internationals, the Indians are banking on a hastily-arranged tour of Sri Lanka and the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 to get into rhythm.
On the other hand, Australia are preparing by playing eight white-ball games, including five T20s, in West Indies and are scheduled to visit Bangladesh for more matches. England have been busy at home against Sri Lanka and Pakistan and are scheduled visit Pakistan and Bangladesh in October while West Indies, one of the top contenders of T20 World Cup and defending champions, will have played three five T20I series besides many ODI games.
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For India, though, the three T20 Internationals and three ODIs in Sri Lanka are the only games ahead of the T20 World Cup. Worse, many players who will be part of the T20 squad at the World Cup - Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja - won't be playing in Sri Lanka as they are busy in the Test series in England.
Unlike in the past, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) does not have a tours and fixtures committee at the moment. The decision on international series nowadays is taken by the office-bearers.
"The BCCI talks to foreign boards and then as per space in the calendar, the series are planned. That is the usual practice. However, COVID-19 and many other obligations have made it impossible for India to play many preparatory white-ball matches," said a BCCI official.
