Should India prioritize regular friendly matches over occasional tours?

A commentary raises questions about India's strategy regarding international friendly matches. Rather than focusing on specific outcomes from past friendlies, the piece suggests that a more fundamental question should be examined: how to establish regular friendly fixtures as a consistent feature of India's international calendar.

The article argues that periodic friendly matches, when conducted sporadically, may not provide the sustained competitive rhythm needed for continuous team improvement. A structured, recurring approach to friendlies could offer players consistent match practice and allow the coaching staff to experiment with strategies and player combinations in a lower-stakes environment.

The commentary underscores that the real value lies not just in individual friendly results, but in building a systematic framework where such matches become a regular part of the competitive calendar, enabling better preparation for major tournaments and bilateral series.