Former Indian cricketers and national selectors have heavily criticized the Indian Premier League's structural environment following the national team's consecutive T20 International series defeats against Ireland and England in July 2026.
The team, led by new captain Shreyas Iyer, lost 0-2 to Ireland and then 0-4 to England.
Former selectors Salil Ankola and Surendra Bhave stated that shorter boundaries and flat pitches in the franchise tournament create false confidence among Indian batters when playing in challenging overseas conditions.
Manjrekar Calls for Selection Overhaul
Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar said the Board of Control for Cricket in India should address the root cause rather than penalize the team management.
“The easiest thing to do for India would be to sack Gautam Gambhir, sack the captain, sack some of the players who didn't perform well in Ireland and England.
That would be the easy thing to do.
The right thing to do would be to identify the main reason for India's setback,” Manjrekar told Hindustan Times.
He argued that players were selected based on IPL performances, which do not reflect overseas conditions.
On Instagram, Manjrekar criticized the IPL's batting environment, calling it “the easiest batting condition I've ever seen in my life.”
“The IPL puts a very heavy makeup on Indian batters, all batters. They've made it the easiest batting condition.
And that is why it flatters to be seen,” he wrote.
Writing on X, Manjrekar urged selectors to evaluate players independently of IPL statistics ahead of tours to Zimbabwe and New Zealand.
“The easy thing would be is to hold players responsible for this overseas T20 setback.
The right thing would be is to hold those responsible who have made IPL such, that it puts a heavy make up on Indian batters,” he posted.
He added: “Challenge is for the selectors to imagine Indian batters without the heavy IPL make up on & pick only those for India.
A lot of T20 cricket will be overseas now. The home fun run is over.”
Azharuddin Highlights Condition Differences
Former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin echoed these concerns to ANI, urging the team to adapt quickly to swinging and bouncing pitches outside the subcontinent.
“England is totally different. It's not like playing in the IPL.
The quicker the Indian team realises that, the better. In the IPL, when you play, you try to hit almost every ball out of the park.
But here, it doesn't happen because the ball swings, the conditions are different, and there is bounce in the wicket,” Azharuddin said.
He noted that England bowlers have successfully exploited Indian batters' weaknesses.
“The England bowlers have really figured out how to bowl to each batsman. We have to work really hard.
It's not a very good performance, but I'm sure they will learn. Two losses against Ireland and then three losses on the trot.
It doesn't augur well for the Indian team.
I hope they learn very quickly and at least show some pride in the next game,” he added.
The all-rounder shortage has also been attributed to the IPL's “Impact Player” rule, which allows teams to substitute specialist players.
India is scheduled to play three ODIs in England before a three-match T20I series in Zimbabwe starting July 23, 2026.
