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National Cricket Academy President and former Indian batsman VVS Laxman will be the coach of the Indian team at the Hangzhou Asian Games in September and October because there is a scheduling overlap with the 50+ World Cup in India. The Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry is fielding a second division team in the Asian Games led by Rituraj Gaekwad.
The BCCI has also decided to give Rahul Dravid a break after the ongoing West Indies series so Laxman will also step in for the three-match T20 series against Ireland next month.
Like Dravid, the support team will also be given a break after the series in the West Indies. Other than Dravid, batting coach Vikram Rathore, bowling coach Paras Mambre and fielding coach T Dilip will rest ahead of the Asian Cup.
“They have a long streak (in the West Indies) and since the Ireland team is likely to be a minor team, it was thought that VVS should go with the team. He will be coach for the Asian Games too,” said an Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry official.
The West Indies series consisted of two Tests, three ODIs and five T20 matches. The last two matches of the T20 series will be played in Florida, USA.
This is not the first time that Laxman has held the post of acting head coach of the Indian national team. After the Indian team was knocked out in the semifinals of last year’s T20 World Cup, Laxman stepped into the New Zealand series.
The National Selection Committee has yet to select the team for the Ireland series.
Agarkar to travel to the West Indies
The newly appointed Selection Committee Chairman Ajit Agarkar will be traveling to the West Indies in a few days. He will hold discussions with the management of the Indian team, namely coach Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma, on the roadmap for the 50-year World Cup.
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