IRE vs IND: VVS Laxman Set To Coach India On Ireland Tour
When Ravi Shastri’s tenure ended in late 2021, BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly said that his old teammate and Test specialist VVS Laxman was interested in becoming India’s head coach. The position, however, went to Laxman’s close friend Rahul Dravid.
Despite this, Laxman, who is now the National Cricket Academy (NCA)chief, is slated to coach India’s T20I squad in the next two-match series against hosts Ireland.
Dravid will be with the Indian Test squad for their fifth and final match against England in the United Kingdom which starts on July 1.
VVS Laxman Has Had Past Experience Of Coaching In Domestic Cricket
“He will travel with the Indian team to Dublin,” stated BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, revealing that Laxman will be in charge in Dravid’s absence.
It’s a similar arrangement to what Team India had last year. Regular coach Shastri was with Virat Kohli’s red-ball team during India’s tour of the United Kingdom, after the WTC final and before the five Tests against then-Joe Root-led England, whereas Dravid had stepped in as the stand-in coach of the white-ball side, which had travelled to Sri Lanka for three ODIs and 3 T20Is each.
This will be Laxman’s first assignment as a coach with the senior men’s squad. He was part of the backroom staff of the India U-19 team that won the title in the Caribbean island earlier this year, defeating England in the final.
The Chetan Sharma-led selection committee has yet to name the Ireland T20I team.
VVS Laxman was part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad set up in the past and also acted as a mentor for the Bengal Ranji side.
Laxman might have to work with the first time India captain and a relatively inexperienced side.
