In India, cricket is not just a sport; it is like a religion followed passionately by millions. Whenever Team India steps onto the field in blue, an extraordinary energy runs through countless homes across the country.

What motivated a journalist to write as an ordinary fan?

I am a journalist by profession, but above all, I am an Indian. Just like millions of cricket fans, I feel a sense of personal victory when our team wins, and my heart breaks whenever they lose. That is why I have decided to write this opinion piece not as a reporter, but simply as a passionate cricket fan.

How did Team India fall into such a dark phase?

Looking at the current state of Team India after the tours of Ireland and England fills me with disappointment, anger, and deep sadness. I want to know how a team that was dominating world cricket not long ago known for its fighting spirit has fallen into such a dark phase of directionless leadership, arbitrary decisions and embarrassing performances.

How did team management excuse the Ireland defeat?

After Team India suffered a humiliating 0-2 loss during the Ireland tour right after the IPL, the team management offered an excuse. They stated, “We didn’t get enough time to adapt to Irish conditions. The team had a new captain alongside many new players, so there wasn’t proper time to prepare.”

Have recent tours exposed the system’s flaws?

However, it now feels like the defeats in both Ireland and England have exposed the harsh truth of our cricket system, a reality that was being cleverly hidden until now.

Was the England tour one of India’s worst ever?

In particular, Team India’s tour of England will be remembered as one of the worst chapters in Indian cricket history. Can you believe that our men’s team lost eight out of their last nine matches? Apart from a lone victory in Birmingham, the team looked completely helpless and directionless throughout the entire series.

What were the exact results of India’s UK tour?

India’s UK Tour Results:

• Lost the T20I series against Ireland ❌
• Lost the ODI series against England ❌
• Lost the T20I series against England ❌

Who is to blame for the post-World Cup collapse?

Earlier in 2026, Team India successfully defended its T20 World Cup title. However, right after that, the team played a series against Ireland and lost its long-standing undefeated record against them. Then came the T20 series in England, where India suffered a heavy 0-4 defeat. The tour concluded with a 3-match ODI series; while senior players returned and brought hopes of a turnaround, India still lost 1-2. Today, every true cricket lover is asking one boiling question: Who is actually responsible for this terrible downfall? If the captain, coach, and selectors take credit for victories, why should the blame for defeat be pinned only on the captain?

Are Gambhir and Agarkar sacrificing the present for the future?

Another major concern is what responsibility head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar will take for this poor performance. Their stubborn mindset of taking unusual decisions in the name of “building a team for the future” and bringing “transition” is ruining the team’s present. The team’s today is being sacrificed for tomorrow. Have both of them decided to drop every established and experienced player under one pretext or another, no matter how heavy a price the team has to pay for it?

Why was T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav dropped?

Who could have imagined that Suryakumar Yadav, who brilliantly captained India to the 2026 T20 World Cup title, would be dropped from the team by the duo of Gambhir and Agarkar? It’s not just SKY; lately, a strange game is being played where other match-winners are also being forcibly left out. Do experience and recent form hold no value in the team anymore?

Is constant experimentation ruining team selection?

Changing the playing XI for favoured players, benching players in top form, and experimenting without any solid plan is this the master plan for Team India under Gambhir and Agarkar?

Why are top bowlers like Shami, Siraj and Kuldeep being sidelined?

Now, look at these bitter numbers that clearly show the injustice being done to our top bowlers. Take Mohammed Shami, for example: one of the world’s most lethal fast bowlers with 206 wickets in 108 ODIs, he has been completely sidelined since our winning Champions Trophy campaign in March 2025. Meanwhile, Mohammed Siraj who has taken 76 wickets in 50 ODIs, is struggling with this “in and out” policy. The treatment of Kuldeep Yadav is even more disappointing.

Was Kuldeep Yadav reduced to a traveling passenger?

A bowler who has taken 194 wickets in 121 ODIs was left to be just a “travelling passenger” for the second year in a row on the England tour. If Rohit Sharma had not scored a century in the Lord’s ODI, who knows his name might have been the next on the list of dropped players!

How do the 2022 and 2026 England tours compare?

India’s Last Two Tours of England:

2022 Tour

• Won the T20I Series (Captain: Rohit Sharma)
• Won the ODI Series (Captain: Rohit Sharma)

2026 Tour

• Lost the T20I Series (Captain: Shreyas Iyer)
• Lost the ODI Series (Captain: Shubman Gill)

Why does tactical awareness matter in English conditions?

There is no doubt that the Indian team still has the ability to beat the best teams anywhere in the world. However, achieving that depends heavily on selecting the right players, picking the correct playing XI, and forming a solid match strategy. Anyone who closely follows cricket played in English conditions knows that the outfield at Lord’s has a unique slope. This slope is so significant that it can even influence the outcome of a match.

Will the BCCI step in to demand accountability?

When it comes to ODIs and T20s, the BCCI must understand that the country’s pride and the emotions of millions of fans are at stake. The leaders of Indian cricket cannot sit back as silent spectators anymore, they must hold people accountable. We certainly want a bright future, but not by destroying our proud present. If these senseless experiments are not stopped immediately, our search for tomorrow will ruin the present state of Indian cricket.

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