VVS Laxman to coach India in Zimbabwe: Jay Shah

National Cricket Academy (NCA) head VVS Laxman will be India’s stand-in head coach in place of Rahul Dravid for the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe.

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On Friday, BCCI secretary Jay Shah informed that since there is only a short turnaround time between the ODI series in Zimbabwe and the Asia Cup 2022 starting on August 27 in the UAE, the board has decided that Laxman will look after the second string Indian team which will take on Zimbabwe in a three-match ODI series starting August 18.

"Yes, VVS Laxman will be in charge of the Indian team in Zimbabwe for the three-match ODI series. It's not like Rahul Dravid is taking a break. The ODI series in Zimbabwe finishes on August 22 and Dravid along with the Indian team will reach the UAE on August 23. Since there is little gap between the two events, Laxman will be in charge of the Indian squad in Zimbabwe," BCCI secretary Shah told PTI on Friday.

"Since only KL (Rahul) and (Deepak) Hooda are there with the ODI squad in Zimbabwe, it was only logical that the head coach would be with the T20 squad."


The convention in BCCI has been that second string or A teams have always been monitored by the head of the NCA and hence Laxman will be with the Indian squad when the first team is on assignment elsewhere.

Recently, Laxman was with the T20I squad in Ireland when Dravid was with the Test squad in England. Shah also informed that KL Rahul and Deepak Hooda will directly fly from Harare to Dubai as they are part of the Asia Cup 2022 squad.

Laxman will have former India players Sairaj Bahutule and Hrishikesh Kanitkar as his deputies in Zimbabwe.

The KL Rahul-led Indian team are scheduled to play against Zimbabwe in three ODIs on August 18, 20, and 22 in Harare. 

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