India’s packed international calendar will once again necessitate a split in coaching responsibilities, with Centre of Excellence (CoE) head VVS Laxman set to coach the team on the tours of Zimbabwe and the Asian Games.
With the Asian Games overlapping with the opening leg of India’s home series against the West Indies, head coach Gautam Gambhir will remain with the senior side, while Laxman takes charge of the squads travelling to Zimbabwe and Japan.
Laxman will be assisted by a familiar support staff during the Zimbabwe tour. Former India spinner Sunil Joshi will serve as the bowling coach, while former India batter Hrishikesh Kanitkar will take over as the batting coach. The same coaching group is expected to continue for the Asian Games campaign as well.
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The arrangement is not new. Whenever India’s crowded schedule has thrown up overlapping assignments, the BCCI has leaned on the CoE to ensure continuity.
Laxman has previously stepped in to coach the national side on multiple overseas assignments when the senior coaching staff was unavailable, while earlier heads of the National Cricket Academy also performed similar roles during scheduling clashes.
The latest decision reflects the increasing demands of India’s calendar, with bilateral commitments and multi-sport events running concurrently.
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Published on Jul 07, 2026