India’s path to qualifying for the World Test Championship final next June remains uncertain after a humiliating home defeat at the hands of New Zealand in the first two tests.
Gautam Gambhir’s position as head coach is facing increased scrutiny after India’s disheartening loss to Black Caps, leading to widespread speculation about the team’s future trajectory and overall performance. Although Gambhir possesses extensive experience as both a player and a coach, this latest setback has sparked conversations among stakeholders in Indian cricket regarding the necessity of leadership changes.
India is set to play Australia in the Border Gavaskar trophy but will face South Africa in a T20 series. VVS Laxman has been appointed as the head coach for India’s upcoming short white-ball tour of South Africa, stepping in as current national coach Gautam Gambhir heads to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. This decision was confirmed by a senior official from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday. The four-match series, which was not originally scheduled, has been arranged through discussions between the BCCI and Cricket South Africa (CSA).
India will play four Twenty20 Internationals in Durban, Gqeberha, Centurion, and Johannesburg on November 8, 10, 13, and 15, respectively.
As reported by CricBuzz, Sairaj Bahutule, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, and Subhadeep Ghosh will join Laxman’s coaching staff for the tour. The trio previously led the Indian Emerging team during the recent Asia Cup held in Oman.
VVS Laxman will serve as the head coach for India’s upcoming white-ball tour of South Africa. pic.twitter.com/FL7E5ts00k
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) October 28, 2024
Critics have voiced concerns about scheduling the South Africa tour during India’s domestic season, with former captain Sunil Gavaskar highlighting in Sportstar that “next month, there’s a needless four-match T20 series in South Africa before the tour to Australia.” He pointed out that the simultaneous ‘A’ team tour to Australia would leave around 50 to 60 players unavailable for their state teams in the crucial Ranji Trophy. However, there is a potential silver lining: the four matches may serve as a valuable opportunity for players to showcase their skills ahead of the IPL auction, giving franchises insight into who might be in high demand.
VVS Laxman’s potential as India’s permanent coach: A crucial test against South Africa
As VVS Laxman takes on the role of head coach for India’s upcoming white-ball tour of South Africa, all eyes are on him to produce a compelling performance that could secure his place as the permanent coach. This moment is particularly significant for Indian cricket, especially in light of Gambhir’s underwhelming series against the Kiwis.
The cricketing world is closely observing how Laxman embraces this new challenge. His deep knowledge of the game, combined with his prior experiences, may be crucial in steering the team through the intricacies of international competition.
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
