Not Gambhir! 'This' Legendary Batter Will Be India's Head Coach; Pandya, SKY To Be Next Captain
Gambhir is expected to be India's next full-time coach (x.com)
VVS Laxman and his support staff at the National Cricket Academy might accompany the Indian team to Zimbabwe for the five-match T20I series beginning July 6, while Gautam Gambhir's tenure is expected to start from Sri Lanka tour.
As per a report by PTI, India's squad for the Zimbabwe series will be announced by the end of this week, either on June 22 or 23. It's understood senior players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah are expected to be rested for the tour.
Gambhir is currently the favourite to become the head coach of the senior men's team, pipping former women's team head coach WV Raman. The KKR mentor will also get a chance to pick his support staff comprising batting, bowling and fielding coach.
"There is a possibility that Laxman along with some of the NCA coaches will travel with the new look squad to Zimbabwe. Laxman and the NCA team has always filled up whenever Rahul Dravid and the first team coaches have been taken periodic breaks during their stint," a BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
It is understood that a young squad will go to Zimbabwe but it would have 6 to 7 members of T20 World Cup contingent.
Three youngsters - Riyan Parag, Abhishek Sharma and all-rounder Nitish Reddy, who were exceptional during the IPL - are all but certain to get a look-in, while one among Yash Dayal or Harshit Rana could also get their maiden call-up.
The skipper of the squad will either be Hardik Pandya, if he doesn't ask for rest, or Suryakumar Yadav.