New Delhi: As Team India heads into a busy cricket season, Gautam Gambhir, India’s current head coach, will not join the squad for their T20 tour of South Africa. Instead, cricket legend VVS Laxman will step in as the head coach for the upcoming four-match series. This decision comes as Gambhir focuses on preparations for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) in Australia, a key series for India. A senior Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) official confirmed the switch.
The T20 tour of South Africa, scheduled after India’s recent ODI World Cup matches, will take place from November 8 to 15. The BCCI, along with Cricket South Africa (CSA), added this short series in Durban, Gqeberha, Centurion, and Johannesburg to keep players in action ahead of the domestic season and upcoming tournaments.
BCCI’s Strategic Move: Laxman’s Coaching Support
Laxman, currently leading the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, will be joined by several experienced coaches. Key support staff will include Sairaj Bahutule, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, and Subhadeep Ghosh, each with experience coaching India’s emerging talent at the recent Asia Emerging Cup. With these skilled professionals on board, Laxman aims to steer the young Indian squad confidently in the short T20 stint.
In addition to NCA staff, Sitanshu Kotak and Mazhar Moidu, who are coaching the India A team in Australia, have also been guiding younger players like Ruturaj Gaikwad. This extensive support system from NCA experts ensures that India’s coaching structure remains strong even with key personnel spread across tours.
Suryakumar Yadav Leads India’s T20 Squad
Suryakumar Yadav, India’s explosive batsman, will captain the T20 team in South Africa. The 15-member squad includes emerging talents and experienced players alike, promising a dynamic lineup to compete in the four T20 Internationals. The tour provides a valuable platform for players to showcase their skills before the IPL 2024 auction, giving franchises insight into potential stars.
India’s T20 Squad for South Africa
- Captain: Suryakumar Yadav
- Players: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ramandeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Avesh Khan, Yash Dayal
Balancing BGT Preparation and Domestic Cricket
The decision to send two different coaching groups for separate tours underscores BCCI’s focus on balancing both the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the Ranji Trophy season, which will lose about 50-60 players to international duties. This South Africa tour not only keeps players active in competitive cricket but also provides a preview of IPL’s rising stars.
With Laxman guiding India’s T20 squad and Gambhir preparing the team for BGT, BCCI aims to ensure all facets of Indian cricket remain strong across formats and tours.
