At BCCI meet, Agarkar, Gambhir seek clarity on injured players’ returns

(PTI) Injury management of key players heading into a crucial all-format tour of New Zealand and the broader roadmap for next year’s ODI World Cup will be the key points of discussion at a BCCI review meeting featuring head coach Gautam Gambhir and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar in Mumbai on Thursday.

The June-July debacle in the UK is expected to be discussed at length, but it is also understood that stakeholders, including BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, want to look ahead.

Centre of Excellence head VVS Laxman is also expected to join the meeting. The tour of New Zealand is scheduled in October-November.

Injury-Related Timelines

Those tracking the latest developments in Indian cricket say Agarkar and Gambhir could have some very specific queries on the injured centrally-contracted and targeted players who are undergoing rehabilitation at the Bengaluru-based COE.

“The selection committee chief was informally intimated before the Sri Lanka Tests that Jasprit Bumrah would be fit for at least one, if not two, Tests. In fact, he had written a mail to COE seeking more clarity on Bumrah’s absence.

“His (Bumrah’s) absence was felt in the second Test, where Siraj looked distinctly off-colour on a placid track. Ditto for Hardik Pandya, who hasn’t played anything post IPL and is important as far as the ODI World Cup is concerned,” a BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

While it is very difficult to set a specific date for any player’s return as bodies are different and so are the types of injuries, at times, the COE’s Sports Science team has often failed to provide even an approximate timeline.

For Agarkar and Gambhir, it is very necessary that they have an idea about some of the important players’ availability, which is central to the strategic planning for marquee tours and big ICC events.

For instance, Pandya has shifted his base to Bengaluru, got a house on rent and plans to train there in the near future.

However, the team management and the selection committee are clear that unless COE rules him fit to bowl 10 overs, they won’t pick him for 50-over cricket. Pandya was never in contention to play against Afghanistan as he is not a part of the Asian Games squad.

Pacer Akash Deep has been at the COE for several months now and has not played any international cricket. There are questions about his availability against New Zealand A before the start of the Test series. If one looks at the squad selected for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan scheduled to be played in New Delhi starting September 13, the selection committee named four injured players — Bumrah, Washington, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana — subject to fitness.

All four are following the ‘Return to Play’ protocols. The ball is now firmly in the Laxman-led COE’s court.

The challenge for COE is now to get these injured players on the park by ensuring that they are fit enough to go through the match simulation, which is the last step before COE declares a player fit.

There have been instances where players, despite going for fitness tests and after following ‘Return to Play’ protocols, are distinctly overweight.

Two such players -- one T20 specialist opener and a young burly pacer -- were above the permissible weight when they joined the tour of England.

Rohit Sharma Question

The roadmap discussions will also include the future of three veterans, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja, going into the ODI World Cup. While the latter two are not under considerable pressure as of now, the former has been in the line of fire.

It has been widely speculated that Rohit was intimated by a member of the selection committee (not the chairman) that the panel has decided to move on. Rohit was asked whether he would call time on his career after the Lord’s ODI during the recent tour of England.

While the former captain and people close to him maintained a stoic silence, there was buzz that even though he was angry, Rohit had agreed.

However, after his classic ton at Lord’s, albeit in a losing cause, the possibility of retirement was ruled out at least for now.

Despite this, it can’t be said with certainty that Rohit will board that South Africa-bound flight next year.

Agarkar’s future

Agarkar’s current contract ends on October 4, but since he is being called for the review meeting, the BCCI, it seems, might be keen on maintaining continuity till the end of the ODI World Cup.

And while trying to ensure operational harmony in different divisions, the BCCI would also like the Gambhir-Agarkar-Laxman team to remain on the same page.