Beginning September, India are scheduled to play a string of ODI series including three at home against West Indies, followed by five in New Zealand and three each at home against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe early next year. Before and between the 50-over commitments, they have T20Is against Afghanistan, West Indies, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Besides, they have two important Test series – one in New Zealand and then the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy at home before next edition’s IPL.

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Given such a gruelling schedule, there is a huge question mark on whether the players would get sufficient time to work on their fitness programmes. It is learnt that team’s strength and conditioning coach Adrian Le Roux has already chalked out the plan with an eye on the World Cup. The idea is for the players to reach the peak fitness levels at the tournament.

But, given the players’ frequent breakdowns, the BCCI wants all stakeholders aligned on the same page. The BCCI and Centre of Excellence (CoE) have faced criticism recently over a raft of players breaking down ahead of crucial tours, with many reportedly lacking confidence in the CoE. Seemingly, a communication gap evident between players, the CoE, and the selection committee. There has been at least one instance where the selection committee wasn’t informed that pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah wasn’t fit for a tour.

A similar situation could arise after the next IPL if the workload management planning doesn’t start now and isn’t followed properly. Post IPL, the Future Tours Programme isn’t chalked out yet, but the Asia Cup is scheduled in Bangladesh. With ODI gaining prominence, the team management wants the best eleven to take the field with only bowlers granted the exemption (if the situation demands).

Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of India’s Sri Lanka tour after aggravating his left knee injury. (File Photo)

Loss review

They will also review India’s T20 losses in Ireland and England, as India seek to avoid a similar story repeating, which could potentially jeopardise their World Cup planning. The results being reviewed make for grim reading. India lost the two-match T20I series in Ireland 2-0 in June, a defeat that ended a run of 16 unbeaten series stretching nearly three years for the reigning T20 World Cup champions. The tour of England that followed was worse: India lost the five-match T20I series 4-0, with a 125-run defeat in Nottingham among the low points, before salvaging some pride in the ODIs, winning the opener in Birmingham but ultimately losing that series 2-1 as well.

Hardik’s future

It is understood that during the meeting, the team management will also seek to understand where Hardik Pandya sits in terms of his fitness and availability. While India want him in the ODI set-up, he hasn’t featured in one since the Champions Trophy in 2025. The all-rounder is currently recovering at the CoE and wasn’t named for the T20Is against Afghanistan. So for Pandya to fit into the ODI set-up, how India manage to integrate remains a question. Will they take the brave step and draft him into the ODI set-up or make him play the Vijay Hazare Trophy remains to be seen. But what is beyond doubt is that his presence would bolster the team’s balance.

Similarly, with an eye on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the recent struggles of Indian batsmen in spin-friendly conditions, in the upcoming Ranji season, the curators are likely to be instructed to roll out spin-friendly conditions wherever possible. A zonal curator will oversee the pitch preparations in Ranji Trophy. In the ongoing Duleep Trophy, based on the instructions, spin-friendly pitches were rolled out at the CoE for the quarterfinals and semi-finals.

BCCI in talks with CSA for ODIs

The BCCI is in talks with Cricket South Africa to squeeze in an ODI series, which would be an ideal preparation for the 2027 World Cup. Since touring the Rainbow country in 2024 for a T20Is series, India hasn’t played the World Cup co-hosts in the current FTP. After a request from the Indian team management, the BCCI is in talks with CSA for an ODI series comprising four-six matches leading up to the World Cup, which could serve as an ideal preparation and a chance to get acclimated to the conditions. With the new FTP still not drawn, placing the series right before the World Cup won’t face any issues as well.