Former Indian batter VVS Laxman has been appointed head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan. According to PTI, the BCCI decided to split coaching responsibilities because
of India’s packed international calendar Laxman who is currently the head of BCCI Centre of Excellence will take charge of the Indian squad heading to Japan. Regular head coach Gautam Gambhir will remain with the senior team for the home white-ball series against the West Indies which overlaps with the Asian Games schedule. The men’s cricket competition at the Asian Games is set to be played from 28th September and will clash directly with the ODIs against the West Indies that begin on 27 September.
Laxman previously coached a relatively inexperienced Indian side to gold at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. He has also been interim head coach on several white-ball tours. For the Asian Games, he will be assisted by batting coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar and bowling coach Sunil Joshi, both of whom worked with him during the Zimbabwe series earlier in 2026. India will enter the tournament as defending champions and clear favourites. The Shreyas Iyer-led side will begin its Asian Games campaign in the quarter-finals on September 28, with its opponent yet to be decided.
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VVS Laxman arrives for key BCCI review meeting in Mumbai
VVS Laxman arrived at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai on Thursday for a key review meeting involving the top management of Indian cricket. The former India batter was seen entering the venue with BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and India captain Shubman Gill. The meeting is expected to focus on India’s recent results and the team’s plans for the months ahead. Head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar are also expected to attend.
Laxman’s presence is crucial because of his role at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. The COE has been closely involved in the rehabilitation and fitness of India’s players, with several members of the squad having dealt with injuries in recent months. How the COE has been coordinating with the selectors and team management could be discussed during the meeting. Laxman has also remained a key member of the BCCI setup in the last few years. He has taken charge of the Indian team as an interim coach on a number of occasions and will once again be the coach in the upcoming Asian Games.
