The management of injuries to key players ahead of India’s important all-format tour of New Zealand, along with plans for next year’s ODI World Cup, will dominate a BCCI review meeting involving head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar in Mumbai on Thursday.
The meeting is also expected to focus on the future of veterans Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja as India looks ahead to the ODI World Cup. While Kohli and Jadeja are not currently facing significant pressure, Rohit’s position remains under scrutiny.
There has been widespread speculation that a member of the selection committee, though not Agarkar, informed Rohit that the panel had decided to move on from him. The former India captain was reportedly asked after the Lord’s ODI during the recent England tour whether he was ready to bring an end to his career.
Rohit and those close to him maintained silence over the issue, although reports suggested that he was unhappy but had agreed to the decision. However, after his memorable century at Lord’s, which came in a losing cause, retirement speculation was put to rest, at least temporarily.
Even so, it remains unclear whether Rohit will be part of India’s squad for next year’s South Africa-bound World Cup campaign.
The disappointing June-July tour of England is likely to receive considerable attention during the review, although key BCCI officials, including secretary Devajit Saikia, are understood to be keen to focus on the road ahead.
VVS Laxman, who heads the Centre of Excellence (COE), is also expected to participate in the meeting. India’s tour of New Zealand is scheduled for October and November.
Injury-related timelines
The fitness status of several centrally contracted and targeted players undergoing rehabilitation at the Bengaluru-based COE is expected to be discussed in detail by Gambhir and Agarkar.
According to a BCCI source, Agarkar had been informally told ahead of the Sri Lanka Tests that Jasprit Bumrah was likely to be available for at least one, and possibly two, matches. The selector had also written to the COE seeking greater clarity regarding Bumrah’s absence.
Bumrah’s absence was particularly felt in the second Test, when Mohammed Siraj struggled on a slow, placid pitch. Hardik Pandya’s situation is another major concern, given that he has not played competitive cricket since the IPL and remains an important player for India’s ODI World Cup plans.
While predicting exact comeback dates is difficult because injuries and recovery periods vary from player to player, the COE’s Sports Science team has at times struggled to provide even approximate timelines.
For Gambhir and Agarkar, having a clearer understanding of when important players could return is crucial for strategic planning ahead of major tours and ICC competitions.
Pandya, for instance, has shifted his base to Bengaluru, rented a house and is expected to train there in the coming weeks. However, both the team management and selectors have made it clear that he will not be considered for 50-over cricket unless the COE certifies that he is capable of bowling 10 overs.
Pandya was never expected to feature against Afghanistan because he is not included in India’s Asian Games squad.
Fast bowler Akash Deep has also spent several months at the COE and has yet to return to international cricket. His availability for India A’s matches against New Zealand A before the Test series remains uncertain.
The selectors recently named four injured players — Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana — in the squad for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in New Delhi beginning September 13, with their participation subject to fitness.
All four are currently undergoing the COE’s Return To Play protocols, leaving the next step largely with Laxman and his team.
The COE’s immediate task is to get the injured players back on the field and ensure they are fit enough to complete match simulations, which represent the final stage before a player is cleared to return.
There have also been instances in which players completing fitness tests and Return To Play protocols were found to be significantly above the required weight. Two players — a T20 specialist opener and a young, powerfully built fast bowler — reportedly exceeded the permissible weight when they joined India’s England tour.
Agarkar’s future
Agarkar’s current contract runs until October 4. However, his inclusion in Thursday’s review meeting could indicate that the BCCI is considering retaining him for continuity through the ODI World Cup.
The board is also expected to prioritise coordination between its various departments and ensure that key figures such as Gambhir, Agarkar and Laxman remain aligned on India’s plans going forward.
