VVS Laxman will serve as the head coach for India’s upcoming short white-ball tour of South Africa. This decision comes as incumbent national coach Gautam Gambhir prepares to leave for Australia to oversee the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed this change to Cricbuzz on Monday.
The four-match T20I series was not part of the original schedule. It was recently arranged through discussions between the BCCI and Cricket South Africa (CSA). India will play four T20 Internationals in Durban, Gqeberha, Centurion, and Johannesburg on November 8, 10, 13, and 15, respectively. The Indian team is expected to depart around November 4.
VVS Laxman Takes Helm as Head Coach
Laxman as head coach of Team India will be supported by several coaches from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. Sairaj Bahutule will serve as head coach, while Hrishikesh Kanitkar and Subhadeep Ghosh will take on roles as batting and fielding coaches, respectively. All three were previously involved with the India Emerging side at the Asia Emerging Cup tournament in Oman.
The BCCI announced a 15-member squad led by Suryakumar Yadav for the T20I series on October 25. This squad aims to capitalise on the players’ recent performances while also preparing for future competitions.
Criticism Over Scheduling of South Africa Series
The scheduling of this tour has drawn criticism from former players and analysts. Sunil Gavaskar expressed concerns about holding a four-match T20 series in South Africa during India’s domestic season. He noted:
“Next month, there’s a needless four-match T20 series in South Africa before the tour to Australia. There will also be an ‘A’ team touring Australia next month, so effectively about 50 to 60 players will not be available for their State teams in the premier national tournament, the Ranji Trophy.”
Gavaskar’s comments highlight the potential impact on domestic competitions, particularly the Ranji Trophy, which is currently underway.
Potential Benefits Ahead of IPL Auction
Despite the criticisms, there is an upside to this tour. The matches will provide players with opportunities to showcase their skills ahead of the IPL auction. Teams may use these performances to identify players they wish to pursue in upcoming franchise selections.
This tour could serve as a platform for emerging talents to make their case for inclusion in IPL squads. As franchises prepare for the auction, performances in these T20Is could significantly influence their decisions.
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