VVS Laxman to travel with Team India for Zimbabwe tour; Gambhir’s tenure as new coach to begin soon - Reports

NCA head and former India great VVS Laxman will travel with Team India for the Zimbabwe T20Is, starting July 6, while Gautam Gambhir, who is likely to replace Rahul Dravid as India’s new head coach, will begin tenure mid-July during the away Sri Lanka series. Per the latest reports, the BCCI will announce Gambhir’s appointment as India’s new head coach soon, with the two-time World Cup winner likely to bring his coaching staff alongside.

As the Men in Blue continue to grind in the ongoing 2024 T20 World Cup in the Americas, the BCCI will make the squad announcement for the Zimbabwe series by the end of this week, mostly around 22 or 23.

The Indian Cricket Board is said to pick a different squad altogether, with all eyes on the youngsters who stood out in IPL 2024, including SunRisers opener Abhishek Sharma, Rajasthan Royals batter Riyan Parag, RCB seamer Yash Dayal, alongside a few other names. The board might also give maiden India caps to Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy.

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The report also suggests that BCCI’s ‘targeted list of cricketers’ is having a camp under Laxman at the NCA.

"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 taking periodic breaks during their stint," a BCCI source told PTI on condition of anonymity.

The BCCI will pick seven to eight players from the T20 WC squad, including deputy T20I captain Hardik Pandya and star batter Suryakumar Yadav. Although Hardik is said to captain the Indian Team in Zimbabwe, in case he asks for rest, the board might give SKY the chance to captain India in the shortest format.

Gambhir’s announcement on the cards

Rahul Dravid’s tenure as Team India coach ends with the conclusion of the T20 WC, with Gautam taking over the realm.

Per the latest reports, Gambhir and WV Raman – the former Women’s Team coach, were interviewed by the BCCI, with the board going for the former India cricketer.

Meanwhile, Gambhir’s tenure begins with the away Sri Lanka series, consisting of three T20Is and as many ODIs, and will last for three and half years till December 31, 2027.

(With inputs from agencies)