In a significant development, Gautam Gambhir will reportedly not travel with the 'Men in Blue' for the upcoming Zimbabwe Tour and the Asian Games 2026. India are currently in England for a five-match T20I series and are set to take on the hosts in a three-match ODI series.
After the conclusion of the England series, India will travel to Zimbabwe for a three-match T20I series. Meanwhile, the Asian Games will be held from September 19 to October 4 in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, Japan.
If reports are to be believed, the BCCI will appoint a new set of coaching staff for the Zimbabwe tour and Asian Games, with Gambhir unlikely to travel with the Indian squad.
Why Will Gautam Gambhir Not Travel With Indian Team For Zimbabwe Tour and Asian Games?
India's busy international cricket calendar has reportedly forced the BCCI to make a major change in the coaching setup.
Notably, the Asian Games will run from September 19 to October 4, coinciding with the West Indies tour of India 2026, set to take place between September 27 to October 17.
With two important assignments taking place at almost the same time, the board has reportedly decided to split the coaching responsibilities between Gautam Gambhir and VVS Laxman.
As per reports from Times of India journalist Gaurav Gupta, VVS Laxman will take charge of the Indian team for both the Zimbabwe tour and the Asian Games 2026, while Gautam Gambhir will continue coaching the senior squad during the West Indies series at home.
Laxman, who currently heads the BCCI Centre of Excellence, is no stranger to such responsibilities.
What will be India's new coaching staff for Zimbabwe series and Asian Games 2026?
Reports suggest that India's stand-in head coach VVS Laxman will have a familiar support staff. Former India spinner Sunil Joshi is expected to be appointed as the bowling coach, while former India batter Hrishikesh Kanitkar will take over as the batting coach.
The same coaching group is likely to continue with the Indian team for the Asian Games 2026 as well.
The scheduling clash has come because the West Indies are set to tour India from September 27 to October 17, 2026. The tour will include three ODIs followed by a five-match T20I series.
The ODI series will begin on September 27 in Thiruvananthapuram before moving to Guwahati on September 30. The final ODI will be played in New Chandigarh on October 3.
After the ODI leg, the two teams will play five T20Is. The matches are scheduled to be held in Lucknow, Ranchi, Indore, Hyderabad and Bengaluru between October 6 and October 17.
With the Asian Games taking place during the early part of this series, the BCCI has opted to divide both the squads and the coaching staff.
Has VVS Laxman Coached the Indian Team Before?
Tournament
Year
Result Under VVS
Laxman
Ireland T20I Series
2022
India won 2-0
Zimbabwe ODI Series
2022
India won 3-0
Asia Cup (Stand-in Coach)
2022
Served as interim coach during
Rahul Dravid's absence
New Zealand T20I Series
2022
India won 1-0
Asian Games
2023
India won Gold Medal
South Africa Tour
2024
Tests drawn 1-1, India won ODI series 2-1
T20I series 2-1
(VVS Laxman's stats as India's Head Coach)
The answer is yes, VVS Laxman has served as India’s stand-in head coach on several occasions over the past few years.
His first assignment came in 2022 when he guided India to a 2-0 T20I series win in Ireland. Later that year, he led India to a 3-0 ODI series victory in Zimbabwe.
He also stepped in during the 2022 Asia Cup when Rahul Dravid was unavailable due to COVID-19 and later coached India in the T20I series against New Zealand, where the team won 1-0.
One of VVS Laxman's biggest achievements came at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. Under his guidance, the team won a gold medal.
He was also the coach during India's tour of South Africa in December 2024. India finished the Test series 1-1, while also winning both the ODI and T20I series by identical 2-1 margins.
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Gautam Gambhir and Rajeev Shukla (Source: AFP)
.jpg?type=mq "TR On RCB Players Being Snubbed")
