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Asian Games 2026: VVS Laxman Named Head Coach of Indian Men's Cricket Team; Gautam Gambhir to Lead ODI Team
VVS Laxman has been officially appointed as the head coach of the Indian men's cricket team for the 2026 Asian Games, scheduled to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. This decision was confirmed in a circular issued by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) on September 2.
Joining Laxman in the coaching staff will be Sunil Joshi, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, and the new fielding coach, Shubdeep Ghosh. Meanwhile, the Indian women's cricket team will continue to be led by its regular head coach Amol Muzumdar, along with bowling coach Avishkar Salvi and fielding coach Munish Bali.
Why is the coaching staff split?
The need for two separate coaching groups for the Indian men's team has arisen due to a scheduling clash:
- Home ODI Series: A three-match home ODI series between India and the West Indies is scheduled from September 27 to October 3. Head coach Gautam Gambhir and his regular support staff will remain in India with the ODI team during this series.
- Asian Games Schedule: The cricket competition at the Asian Games will take place from September 17 to October 3. The Indian team has received a bye in the first round and will begin its campaign in the quarter-finals on September 28. Consequently, Laxman has been entrusted with the responsibility for the Asian Games.
Laxman has previously stepped in to handle such situations. He has coached the Indian team on several tours since 2022.
Shreyas Iyer to Lead; Bumrah Included in the Squad
India has decided to field a strong T20 squad for the 2026 Asian Games:
- Men's Team: Shreyas Iyer will captain the team, with Tilak Varma serving as vice-captain. This formidable squad also features experienced fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and young sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi.
- Women's Team: The defending gold-medalist Indian women's team will be led by regular captain Harmanpreet Kaur, while Smriti Mandhana will serve as vice-captain.
