VVS Laxman, the current National Cricket Academy (NCA) chief, will step in as India’s head coach for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa. With Gautam Gambhir preparing for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia, Laxman will take charge for the South Africa tour, which is set to run from November 8 to November 15. Gambhir will depart with the Indian Test team on November 10-11, leaving Laxman to guide the T20 squad.
Coaching Staff for South Africa T20Is
Laxman won’t be alone in this role, as other NCA staff members, including coaches like Sairaj Bahutule, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, and Subhadeep Ghosh, will accompany him to South Africa. Bahutule, who served as the interim bowling coach during the Sri Lanka tour, and Kanitkar and Ghosh, who were part of the Zimbabwe tour, will continue their coaching responsibilities during this T20I series. The T20I series was originally part of the Future Tours Programme (FTP), requiring two separate Indian squads with different coaching teams in two countries.
Why the Shift in Coaches?
This decision comes as a result of two major cricketing events happening simultaneously: the T20I series against South Africa and the preparation for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. To manage the situation, the Indian cricket board has opted for different teams and coaches to handle both assignments effectively. While Gambhir focuses on the Test preparations, Laxman, who has been nurturing young talents at the NCA, will take on the responsibility of leading a relatively new squad in South Africa.
Developing New Talents
In his role as the NCA chief, Laxman has been heavily involved in developing India’s next generation of cricketers. This T20I series against South Africa presents another opportunity for him to work with rising talents like Ramandeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, and Yash Dayal, who are set to make their debuts. Additionally, fringe players like Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma, and Avesh Khan will get crucial game time to solidify their spots in India’s T20I setup.
Key Players to Watch
Several key players, including Suryakumar Yadav, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, and Arshdeep Singh, are expected to be the core of the squad. However, for others like Sanju Samson, Ravi Bishnoi, and Abhishek Sharma, this series is a golden opportunity to make a mark and push for regular inclusion in the full-strength Indian team.
India’s T20I Squad for South Africa Series
- Suryakumar Yadav (c)
- Abhishek Sharma
- Sanju Samson (wk)
- Rinku Singh
- Tilak Varma
- Jitesh Sharma (wk)
- Hardik Pandya
- Axar Patel
- Ramandeep Singh
- Varun Chakaravarthy
- Ravi Bishnoi
- Arshdeep Singh
- Vijaykumar Vyshak
- Avesh Khan
- Yash Dayal
With Laxman at the helm, the T20I series against South Africa will not only be a test of the team’s depth but also a showcase of India’s future cricket stars as they aim to build a strong bench for the years ahead.