- Tuesday, March 11, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
Former India cricketer VVS Laxman has been named as India’s interim head coach for the upcoming Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the absence of Rahul Dravid, who has been ruled out due to Covid-19 infection.
Laxman, who played for India between 1996 and 2012 and was a teammate of Dravid in the national team once, is currently the head of India’s National Cricket Academy and served as the coach for Team India during their recent tour of Zimbabwe where they won a one-day international series 3-0.
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India will take on arch-rivals Pakistan in their opening encounter in Dubai on Sunday (28), a day after the tournament kicks off. The Indian squad for the Asia Cup has seen the return of ace batters such as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli while KL Rahul made a comeback into the national side to captain it in the series against Zimbabwe. He will be Sharma’s deputy at the Asia Cup.
The defending champions will, however, miss the services of pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel, both of whom have been ruled out of the tournament because of injuries.
Confirming Laxman’s appointment, the Board of Control for Cricket in India, said in a release, “Mr VVS Laxman, Head Cricket, NCA will be the interim Head Coach for Team India (Senior Men) for the upcoming ACC Asia Cup 2022, to be played in the UAE.”
“Mr Laxman, who travelled with the Indian team that played the ODI series in Zimbabwe will oversee the team’s preparation in the absence of Mr Rahul Dravid, who tested positive for COVID-19 before the team’s departure to the UAE. Mr Dravid will join the team once he tests negative and is cleared by the BCCI Medical Team,” it added.
“Mr Laxman has linked up with the squad in Dubai along with vice-captain Mr KL Rahul, Mr Deepak Hooda and Mr Avesh Khan, who travelled from Harare,” the release said.
