VVS Laxman Steps In Coaching Shoes For Zimabwe & Asian Game Campaigns Amid Packed International Calendar

India’s busy cricket schedule is set to bring another split-coaching arrangement, with VVS Laxman expected to oversee the national team for the Zimbabwe tour and the Asian Games campaign.

Laxman, who heads the BCCI Centre of Excellence, is likely to step in because India’s assignments are expected to overlap. The Asian Games schedule clashes with the early part of India’s home series against the West Indies, meaning head coach Gautam Gambhir will remain with the senior squad for that bilateral commitment.

The BCCI has used this model before when two Indian teams have been required in different places at the same time. In such cases, the Centre of Excellence setup has provided coaching cover, allowing the senior team’s main support staff to continue with the primary assignment while another squad travels separately.

For the Zimbabwe tour, Laxman is expected to work with a support group that has previous experience in the Indian system. Former India left-arm spinner Sunil Joshi is set to take charge as bowling coach, while former India batter Hrishikesh Kanitkar is expected to handle batting responsibilities.

The same coaching combination could also continue for the Asian Games, giving India consistency across the two assignments. Laxman has already performed similar duties in the past, leading Indian squads on overseas tours when the senior coaching staff was unavailable because of overlapping fixtures.

The arrangement underlines how crowded India’s calendar has become. With bilateral series, global events, and multi-sport competitions often packed close together, the BCCI has increasingly needed parallel coaching structures to manage player groups across formats and venues.

For the players, too, such arrangements can matter a great deal. Tours like these often serve as an opportunity for younger cricketers to stake a claim, while a few experienced names may also be drafted in depending on workload, availability and the nature of the assignment. A familiar support system can help ease that transition and keep the team environment steady.

Laxman’s experience with emerging and fringe players through the Centre of Excellence also makes him a natural choice for such assignments. These tours often feature a mix of senior options, young prospects and players pushing for bigger roles, making continuity within the development pathway important for Indian cricket.