Let Kapil Dev review India's Test debacle: Lalit Modi

Lalit Modi, the former IPL chief in exile, has suggested that former captain Kapil Dev should review Team India's disastrous tour of Australia.

"Isn't eight overseas Test losses in a row reason enough to press the panic button and verify what is the matter with the team, with the system and Indian cricket as a whole. Isn't it the time to introspect and face some inconvenient truths," Modi wrote in his blog.

"It is time we take urgent steps and call for an honest review of Indian cricket set-up. Appoint Kapil Dev alongwith former players of the calibre of GR Viswanath and Mohinder Amarnath, to come up with a report on the hows and whys of the Indian cricket structure," he added.

Modi, who has been living out of India ever since he was sacked from the IPL in 2010, seldom let's go a chance to hit out at the current BCCI set-up. He also took a shot at BCCI president N Srinivasan for his comments referring to India's World Cup win.

"This constant reference to the World Cup win by the president Mr N Srinivasan baffles me. That win was in the one-day format. The team is losing in the Test format," he said.

"If you want to know what is further wrong, look at the recent win-loss record of India's Twenty20 squad. Now, please do not point towards the win in the 2007 World T20. That was five years ago.

"What it clearly shows is that India's Test and T20 squads are facing issues. It is time we rectify the matter and nip it in the bud. That will start with admitting that we have a problem, which the BCCI president is not willing to admit. It seems he overestimates the power of denial," he further added.

Modi also suggested that post-retirement, Rahul Dravid should be appointed as the Director of Cricket for BCCI.

"If and when Rahul Dravid calls it a day in the future, and if I was BCCI president, I would immediately approach him with the job of Director of Cricket for BCCI," he said.

"His main task, to set-up systems, co-ordinate cricketing matters at all levels and be the main point for all cricketing matters with a paid professional staff to support him," he added.

The former BCCI vice-president also clarified his opinion on Dravid: "Why Dravid? As a senior player, vice-captain and captain he has played key roles in Indian cricket both on and off the field. His role in bringing in player contracts along with Anil Kumble was exceptional. His understanding of cricketing matters, structural issues and other important matters is tremendous."

"Can we not have Dravid or someone of his calibre, who would be fresh and contemporary at the helm of affairs? A full structure with the Director of Cricket, cricket operations department and head coach working in tandem will work well for India," Modi said.

Modi also denied that the IPL was to be blamed for India's dismal show in Tests. He said: "Will everybody stop blaming the IPL for the Test debacles. On this Australia tour, who was the only centurion for India, Virat Kohli. He is the only player to have played almost all the IPL and CLT20 games for his franchise, yet he outscored his peers. (I wouldn't like to mention David Warner, another IPL discovery, since he hurt my team bad). What does that show? It just reflects that there is a problem. If only the BCCI president would care to admit to it."