Gautam Gambhir’s Appointment Delayed, VVS Laxman Set to Coach India on Zimbabwe Tour: Report

New Delhi: Interviewed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the top job, former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir will not accompany the national team on the Zimbabwe tour if appointed as the next head coach of the men’s senior team. Gambhir is expected to replace outgoing head coach Rahul Dravid after the ICC T20 World Cup concludes.

Earlier, current head coach Dravid has already clarified that he won’t reapply for the high-profile job again, and the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 is his last assignment. After the conclusion of the ICC T20 World Cup, India are scheduled to tour Zimbabwe for a five-match T20I series in July. It is expected that team management will give rest to seasoned campaigners for that tour. As per the latest developments, Gambhir will not be travelling with the team to Zimbabwe.

According to a report by news agency PTI, National Cricket Academy (NCA) chief VVS Laxman will join the Indian squad for the Zimbabwe series. Laxman and his NCA support staff will link up with the team for the T20I series next month. The BCCI is expected to announce India’s squad for the T20Is later this week. The selectors’ list focuses on top performers from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Either Suryakumar Yadav or Hardik Pandya will captain the young Indian side for the T20I series.

“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 taken periodic breaks during their stint,” a BCCI source told the news agency.

Regarding Gambhir’s appointment, the former India opener is set to edge out former women’s team head coach WV Raman for the top job. The report indicates that Gambhir’s appointment is a ‘mere formality’. Dravid’s successor is expected to be announced in the coming days. Gambhir will begin his coaching tenure with the Sri Lanka series. India is scheduled to tour Sri Lanka next month for a white-ball series consisting of three T20Is and three One Day Internationals (ODIs).