For the upcoming tour of New Zealand, India’s acting head coach will be VVS Laxman, director of the National Cricket Academy, as Rahul Dravid’s coaching staff has been given a break following the team’s elimination from the T20 World Cup. Starting on November 18 in Wellington, India is scheduled to play six white-ball matches in New Zealand, comprising three T20 Internationals and as many ODIs.
The entire coaching staff has also been given a break following the T20 World Cup, in addition to senior players like regular skipper Rohit Sharma, star batter Virat Kohli, opener KL Rahul, and spinner Ravichandran Ashwin being rested for the tour. “The NCA team headed by Laxman with Hrishikesh Kanitkar (batting) and Sairaj Bahutule (bowling) will join the New Zealand-bound squad,” a BCCI source told PTI. Laxman will be in command of the Indian team for the second time. Previously, the ex-cricketer led India’s tours of Zimbabwe and Ireland as well as their recent ODI home series against South Africa.
Veteran opener Shikhar Dhawan will skipper the ODI team, while all-arounder Hardik Pandya will do the same for the T20 series. Rohit will lead the team in Bangladesh once more. For the tour of Bangladesh, where India will play three one-day internationals and two tests beginning on December 4, Kohli and Ashwin will also be back in the lineup.
India was unceremoniously eliminated from the T20 World Cup after England crushed them by 10 wickets in the semifinal match on Thursday in Adelaide. Dispersal of the participants who are not a part of the New Zealand leg has already begun. Rahul and Rohit are also anticipated to board a flight soon, following Kohli’s departure from Adelaide. Sydney and Perth will also lose a significant number of squad members.
