The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly disconcerted by what it perceives as an undue ‘Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) imprint’ within the support framework of Team India. This concern has drawn particular attention to the roles of assistant coaches Ryan ten Doeschate and Abhishek Nayar. Both individuals, known for their prior association with the Kolkata-based Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, are now facing critical evaluation from the BCCI.
Having served as assistant coaches for the national team during the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka, Nayar and ten Doeschate share a history of collaboration with Gautam Gambhir during his tenure at KKR. Under Gambhir’s leadership, the franchise achieved remarkable success, notably clinching the 2024 IPL title with a commanding eight-wicket triumph over Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Stricter Protocols on the Horizon
As per an ESPNcricinfo report, the BCCI is contemplating the implementation of more stringent guidelines for Team India’s touring contingents. Among these proposed measures are restrictions on family interactions during tours and prohibitions against players using independent transportation for travel between practice sessions and match venues. This move is seen as an attempt to enforce greater discipline and uniformity within the squad.
A Season of Setbacks: India’s Test Woes
The dissatisfaction within the BCCI is compounded by Team India’s lackluster performances in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy (2024-25), where they suffered a stinging 3-1 series defeat to Australia. The loss also cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final at Lord’s.
Captain Rohit Sharma and stalwart Virat Kohli bore the brunt of criticism for their underwhelming contributions. Sharma amassed a paltry 31 runs across three matches, averaging a meager 6.20. Kohli, while faring slightly better, managed just 190 runs in five matches, with an average of 23.75. Despite registering a century, Kohli struggled to counter the outside-off-stump tactic employed by Australia’s pacers, particularly Scott Boland, who dismissed him on four occasions.
Prolonged Slump for ‘Ro-Ko’
The larger narrative of the 2024-25 Test season paints a grim picture for both Sharma and Kohli. Over eight matches, Sharma could muster only 164 runs, averaging 10.93 with a solitary half-century. Kohli, on the other hand, aggregated 382 runs in 10 matches at an average of 22.87, recording just one hundred and one fifty. Such figures underscore a season of mediocrity for the duo, often referred to as ‘Ro-Ko.’
The BCCI’s concerns extend beyond mere individual performances, highlighting systemic issues that necessitate immediate redress to restore India’s dominance on the global cricketing stage.
