Gautam Gambhir’s Appointment Delayed; VVS Laxman to Coach India in Zimbabwe: Reports

Former India cricketer and World Cup winner Gautam Gambhir is set to become the new head coach of the men’s senior cricket team, replacing Rahul Dravid after the ICC T20 World Cup. Dravid has announced that he will not reapply for the position, making the ongoing ICC event his final assignment.

Post World Cup, India is scheduled for a five-match T20I series in Zimbabwe this July. However, Gambhir will not accompany the team on this tour. Instead, VVS Laxman, the National Cricket Academy (NCA) chief, will lead the Indian squad in Zimbabwe, along with his NCA support staff. The squad, to be announced later this week, will likely feature top performers from IPL 2024, with either Suryakumar Yadav or Hardik Pandya expected to captain the side.

A BCCI source informed PTI, “Laxman and the NCA team have consistently stepped in whenever Dravid and his coaches took breaks.” This interim arrangement will see Laxman guiding the young Indian side in Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile, Gambhir is tipped to begin his tenure with the upcoming Sri Lanka tour, featuring three T20Is and as many ODIs. His appointment, reportedly a mere formality, will be officially announced soon.