A day after India crushed Afghanistan by 128 runs in the third T20I to complete a 3-0 series sweep, former India chief selector and 1983 World Cup-winning team member Sandeep Patil urged the Indian team to maintain the same level of performance on overseas tours as well.
Citing the example of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who struggled during his maiden T20I series for India, Patil said he wants Indian batters to be effective not just in home conditions but abroad as well. He stressed that the team cannot afford to be dominant only on home soil.
India toured Ireland and England in June-July 2026 for white-ball series but managed to win just one of the 10 matches.
“Mai chahta hu ye ballebazi naa sirf humare wicket ke upar kare ye log lekin jab bahar jaate
hai… humne dekha Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ne thoda struggle kiya jaha par gend thodi move ho rahi hai. Toh ye unko bhi sochna hoga humare selectors hai, humare jo coaches hai aur jo khud khiladiyo ke liye ki sirf ghar mei dadagiri karna, ghar mei sher aur bahar billi aisa nahi hona chahiye (I want this batting to not just be dominant on our wickets, but to be effective when they go abroad as well. We saw Vaibhav Sooryavanshi struggle a little in conditions where the ball was moving. So, our selectors, coaches and players will also have to think about this. It can’t be a case of being dominant only at home — being a lion at home and a cat abroad),” Sandeep Patil said at News18 India’s Jazba: Jadon Se Shikhar Tak event in New Delhi.
India’s away form has been a cause for concern for some time now, and the team is set to travel to New Zealand for an all-format series later this year. India will play five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests in New Zealand.
The Test series, in particular, will be crucial for India, as a draw or defeat would end their chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2027 final.
