Following the announcement of the 15-member Indian squad for the Zimbabwe tour by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), a key update regarding the team’s coaching staff has emerged. Current head coach Gautam Gambhir will not be traveling for the Zimbabwe tour. Instead, former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman—currently the head of the ‘Centre of Excellence’—will take over as the interim head coach.
Decision driven by a busy schedule..
The primary reason for this decision is the Indian team’s packed schedule of international series in the coming days. Gautam Gambhir is currently on the tour of England with the Indian team. The Zimbabwe tour is set to begin on July 23, just days after the conclusion of tVVS Laxman to Coach Team India on Zimbabwe Tour as Gautam Gambhir Takes Breakhe England series. Laxman has been entrusted with the responsibilities of this tour to allow Gambhir some rest and to manage his workload.
In addition to the Zimbabwe tour, Laxman will also serve as the head coach for the Indian team at the 2026 Asian Games, scheduled to take place in Japan from September 19 to October 4. During this same period, the West Indies team is set to tour India. Since the two series overlap, Gambhir will be with the senior team for the West Indies series, while Laxman will lead the Asian Games squad.
Additional support staff members…
Along with VVS Laxman, two other former Indian players have been included in the support staff. Former cricketer Kanitkar will serve as the batting coach, while former spinner Sunil Joshi will take on the role of bowling coach. This coaching trio is likely to continue beyond the Zimbabwe series and the Asian Games, extending into the limited-overs series against Bangladesh.
Although Team India won major tournaments like the 2025 Champions Trophy and the 2026 T20 World Cup under Gautam Gambhir’s coaching, the upcoming series have become crucial for the Indian team following recent defeats against Ireland and England.
