IND vs ZIM: Gambhir, Dravid or Laxman - Who Will Be Team India's Head Coach During Tour To Zimbabwe?

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The Indian men's cricket team is set to travel to Zimbabwe for a 5-match T20I series just under a week after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2024 final.

The India vs Zimbabwe series is set to be held a few days after the T20 World Cup 2024 title clash, which is scheduled to take place on June 29. All the five matches from July 6 to 14 will be staged at the Harare Sports Club in Harare.

With little change-over time left between the T20 World Cup final, should India reach the summit clash, and the tour to Zimbabwe, a second string team is likely to be selected for the series.

Apart from the squad, the coaching staff may also be different for the tour with Rahul Dravid and Co's tenure set to end after the completion of the T20 World Cup.

Former opener Gautam Gambhir is slated to take over the reigns, but is unlikely to be announced as the new coach before the team jets to Harare. So, Team India may fly out with a completely different set up, but a familiar face is likely to be the one leading the staff.

Who will be Team India's head coach for the tour to Zimbabwe?

Dravid has already announced that he will not re-apply for the position, leaving the lone applicant, Gambhir likely to take over the head coach role in the coming days. However, his appointment as head coach may not happen before the team travels to Zimbabwe.

So, India may use a familar face, who filled in for Dravid during his breaks from the national team. According to a report by PTI, National Cricket Academy (NCA) chief VVS Laxman will accompany the Indian squad for the Zimbabwe series.

The reports added that Laxman and his NCA support staff will link up with the Indian squad for the T20I series next month. The BCCI is expected to name India's squad for the T20Is later this week.

"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 PTI.