Mumbai: The Indian squad for the two Test matches in Sri Lanka next month will be announced on Tuesday (July 28).“Yes, the Indian team for the Test match in Sri Lanka will be selected in the next two days. By Tuesday, we will announce the team,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told TOI on Saturday.The first Test of the series, expected to be played in Galle from August 15 to 19, is expected to be a fierce test of spin for the Indian batsmen, who have struggled against quality overseas spin on turning tracks in recent years. The second Test is scheduled to be held at the SSC in Colombo from August 23 to 27.Meanwhile, the BCCI will review team India’s white-ball tours of Ireland, England and Zimbabwe in the first half of August.Led by new T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, India suffered a 2-0 defeat to Ireland in their first T20I series loss to the hosts before being whitewashed 4-0 by England in the T20I series. Led by Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill, India then lost the ODI series 2-1 to England, ending a disappointing tour of England.However, India defeated hosts Zimbabwe by seven wickets in the opening T20I at Harare Sports Club on Thursday to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The win was Iyer’s first as India’s T20I captain after a seven-game losing streak.“We will review the India team’s tour of England, Ireland and Zimbabwe in early August. Probably in early August. Some contracts (of the Indian support staff) have expired. We will review it. In our review meeting, we will discuss everything, including what went wrong with the England team.” The review meeting will be held after our team returns from Zimbabwe,” Saikia told this newspaper.
BCCI reviews decision to extend contracts of Dushat and Dileep
The contracts of head coach Gautam Gambhir’s two support staff have come to an end following the ongoing white-ball assignment and their futures will be decided at the BCCI review meeting after the tour of Zimbabwe.The two-year contracts of assistant coach Ryan Ten Doshat and fielding coach T. Dilip have expired.Saikia revealed: “Regarding the contract extension of the two support staff whose contracts have expired, the review committee will decide on their contract extension.”There is speculation that the contracts between more than a dozen Saudi Arabians and Dileep may not be renewed.Dileep, who joined the Indian team as part of former coach Rahul Dravid’s back-office team, has been a popular figure and is remembered for awarding the ‘Best Fielder Medal’ after every match. He is the only member of Dravid’s support team to remain in office after Dravid, batting coach Vikram Rathour and bowling coach Paras Mhambrey completed their tenure after India won the 2024 T20 World Cup.However, India’s defensive standards have dropped significantly over the past few months.
