VVS Laxman to head coach for Zimbabwe tour and Asian Games; Gautam Gambhir expected to rest after England Series

Mumbai: The BCCI will again use a split coaching model to manage India’s packed schedule, with Centre of Excellence chief VVS Laxman set to coach the team on the white-ball tour of Zimbabwe and at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, TOI has learnt. Regular head coach Gautam Gambhir is expected to take a break after the England series, with only a four-day gap between the final ODI on July 19 and the first T20I in Zimbabwe on July 23.

Former India cricketers Hrishikesh Kanitkar and Sunil Joshi are likely to join Laxman as batting and bowling coaches respectively. The duo recently worked with India A in the successful Tri-series campaign in Sri Lanka.

India have a packed calendar, with the Asian Games, a probable Bangladesh white-ball tour and a home series against West Indies scheduled in a similar window.
132255204