VVS Laxman, not Gautam Gambhir, to accompany India squad for Zimbabwe tour: Report

Gautam Gambhir is widely tipped as the next India men’s cricket team head coach but he will reportedly not travel with the Men in Blue for their five-match T20I series in Zimbabwe in July. India will be coached by National Cricket Academy (NCA) head VVS Laxman and his support staff on the Zimbabwe tour, a report in PTI said. The squad for Zimbabwe is expected to come out by 22 or 23 June and BCCI’s ‘targeted list of players’ along with the top young performers from IPL are currently training under Laxman at the NCA in Bengaluru.

“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.

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Gambhir, however, remains the favourite to become the next India coach and replace Rahul Dravid, who is stepping down after the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. Gambhir was interviewed by BCCI Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) on Tuesday for the head coach role along with former women’s team head coach WV Raman, but the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor is favourite to land the job.

The report also said that Gambhir will be taking over as India coach from Sri Lanka tour. The tour will begin from mid-July and comprise of three T20Is and as many ODIs.

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It is understood that India will pick a young squad for Zimbabwe with players Riyan Parag, Abhishek Sharma and Nitish Reddy set to get their maiden call-ups. Yash Dayal or Harshit Rana could also get a call-up. However, the squad will also have six to seven players from the current T20 World Cup squad. Also it can be captained by Hardik Pandya or Suryakumar Yadav if the all-rounder is not available.