Team India's support staff could face the music

The support staff of the Indian team could be under notice. The recent defeats to England are not being taken lightly by the powers-that-be in the Indian cricket set-up. Duncan Fletcher & Co could face the music.

A top official of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) assured this paper that the required measures will be taken. He did not elaborate on the matter, but clearly stated that the BCCI is well aware of the contributions of each member of the support team.

Fletcher has been Team India’s head coach since June 2011, having taken over from Gary Kirsten after the World Cup triumph. But since the change of guard, the Indian team’s fortunes have been on a downward spiral, with 10 defeats in the last 16 Tests. The 64-year-old Zimbabwean has presided over 10 defeats in 19 Tests. Particularly galling are the losses to England in the ongoing series. The aura of invincibility at home has gone up in smoke with England on the verge of their first-ever series win on these shores in 28 years.

Fletcher’s contract will be up for review in April 2013 and unless there is a dramatic turnaround in Team India’s fortunes, the former England coach could be under pressure to retain his position and, of course, the £250,000 pay package (approximately Rs 2.2 crore).

The only factor that is working for him is that he was handpicked by N Srinivasan, who thought he was the best for the job. But much water has flown through the Indian Ocean since his appointment and the BCCI president “is aware” of the situation. It is said that Srinivasan had a word with the coach after the Kolkata defeat. What transpired between them would never be known but they sure didn’t discuss FDI in multi-brand retail.

More than Fletcher, the job of the other two coaches could be in line. The Indian bowlers, otherwise formidable in home conditions, have struggled to take 20 English wickets and the Indian fielders have dropped catches that can be termed as regulation one. Australian Joe Dawes and Englishman Trevor Penney could be in trouble.