Virat Kohli, Ravi Shastri face the heat after successive defeats; BCCI to grill captain, head coach

BCCI to question Kohli and Shastri after woeful defeat at Lord's  

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is all set to grill Indian team skipper Virat Kohli and head coach Ravi Shastri after the team's shambolic performance in the first two Test matches against England. India, after losing the first Test closely by 31 runs at Edgbaston, slumped to a crushing defeat by an innings and 159 runs in the 2nd Test at the iconic Lord's Stadium.

The BCCI sources suggest that the BCCI is unhappy with the team's meek surrender in the first two Test matches. "What is happening on field is a result of the indiscipline shown off the field. Why are the players not staying, living as a team? Why does half team travel in a bus, rest in a train? Where is the team spirit? If this keeps happening, results like this are bound to show," top BCCI sources told Times Now.

The Indian board is also clearly unhappy with Virat Kohli being given all the power to make decisions on his own. The board is likely to ask for explanations from Kohli and Shastri depending on the result of the third Test. The squad for the last two Test matches is yet to be announced. According to reports, the questions arising in the BCCI corridors are why the captain, coach duo of Shastri and Kohli have been given immense freedom in terms of team selection and management. 

The duo is likely to face the heat if the woeful form of the team continues in England. Earlier the players and team management had complained about a tight schedule and lack of match practice after losing in South Africa, however, this time around the players had enough time to prepare and some of the senior members were also sent to England with India A side for adequate time to acclimatise with the conditions. 

“We arranged white ball matches first. It was on the senior team’s insistence that we send the India A team during the same time starting the concept of ‘Shadow Tour’ Two senior India players (M Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane) were accommodated for A team games. Whatever they wanted, they were provided. Now if results don’t come, the Board is well within its rights to ask questions,” a BCCI source told PTI.

Currently, the Indian team is embracing one of their toughest outings under Kohli's captaincy. The team has failed spectacularly to deliver in both the Test matches and are yet to open their win account in the ongoing series. The development of BCCI's displeasure over Kohli and Shastri comes at a time when the skipper is nursing a back injury and is not certain of his chances in the third Test. 

If true, BCCI is likely to make a few surprising changes in the Test squad for the final two games, depending on how the third Test pans out. While the bowlers have put on a decent show, the batsman have managed only 673 runs combined in the first two Tests. India and England will lock horns in the third Test beginning from August 18.