Asia Cup 2022: VVS Laxman- India’s new interim Head Coach
VVS Laxman has been chosen Team India’s temporary Head Coach after Rahul Dravid tested positive for COVID-19. Dravid has been placed in isolation. He tested positive on Tuesday, prior to the team’s departure to the UAE, and will join them after he tests negative and is approved by the BCCI medical panel. India’s Asia Cup campaign will get off on August 28 against archrivals Pakistan.
The BCCI released an official statement which stated, “VVS Laxman, Head Cricket, NCA will be the interim Head Coach for Team India (Senior Men) for the upcoming ACC Asia Cup 2022, to be played in the UAE”.
It also stated, “Mr Laxman, who travelled with the Indian team that played the ODI series in Zimbabwe will oversee the team’s preparation in the absence of Mr Rahul Dravid, who tested positive for COVID-19 before the team’s departure to the UAE. Mr Dravid will join the team once he tests negative and is cleared by the BCCI Medical Team”.
Laxman, who led India’s ODI squad in Zimbabwe, has joined the camp in the UAE, along with KL Rahul, Deepak Hooda, and Avesh Khan, who were all on the Zimbabwe tour. Laxman, who runs the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, knows the majority of India’s players. He was their head coach on a July trip of Ireland and an August tour of Zimbabwe. India deployed a backup squad for each of these engagements. The Asia Cup is different. Laxman will lead a full-strength squad for the first time.
During India’s recent tour of Zimbabwe, the men in blue easily beat the locals by a score of 3-0. Due to a rigorous schedule, many senior players were unable to participate in the Zimbabwe tour. Players such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant will return to play on August 28. Senior bowler Jasprit Bumrah, on the other hand, has been ruled out of the event due to a back issue.
Laxman, who is 47 years old, is one of India’s greatest batter. Even though he was following on against Australia in 2000-2001, his unbeaten 281 is still considered one of the best innings in Test cricket history. In 2012, after scoring 8781 runs in 134 Tests, he ended his career and moved on to coaching and commentating.
NEWS – VVS Laxman named interim Head Coach for Asia Cup 2022.
More details here 👇👇https://t.co/K4TMnLnbch #AsiaCup #TeamIndia
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 24, 2022
The squad will hold its first training session in Dubai on Wednesday evening, under Laxman’s cautious eye. Laxman, along with bowling coach Paras Mhambrey and batting coach Vikram Rathour, will oversee the squad till Dravid’s availability is determined. They will communicate with Dravid on a frequent basis via video conferencing.
Mr. Dravid will join the team as soon as his tests come back negative and the BCCI Medical Team gives him the all-clear.
