Asian Games 2026: VVS Laxman Named Head Coach of Indian Men's Team
Laxman will take charge of India’s men’s cricket team at the Asian Games, with Gambhir overseeing the three-match ODI series against West Indies at home during the same period.
The Asian Games 2026 begins from September 19 and the cricket event is scheduled to take place from September 17 to October 3. And as India prepares for the event, the Indian team management has appointed VVS Laxman to be the head coach for the men’s team. The stylish batter from Hyderabad will be accompanied by Sunil Joshi, Hrishikesh Kanitkar and the new fielding coach Subhadeep Ghosh as the support staff to Japan.
The Women’s team will be coached by the regular team India coaching staff, including Amol Muzamdar as the head coach, Aavishkar Salvi will be the bowling coach and Munish Bali will be the fielding coach. The announcement of the new coach for the men’s team and the support staff for both the Indian cricket contingent heading to Japan for the Asian Games was made official on September 2 in a circular issued by the Indian Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
According to an earlier report by Cricinfo, the decision to have separate coaching staff for the men’s team is required because India's T20I campaign at the Asian Games overlaps with the ODI series at home against West Indies, which is scheduled from September 27 to October 3.
At the Asian games, India has received a bye in their first-round and they will start their campaign directly with the quarter-final match on September 28. The Gautam Gambhir led coaching staff will be with the ODI squad in India.
VVS Laxman was Indian men’s team's head coach for the Asian Games in 2024, where the team had won Gold. He also coached the team during India’s tour of Zimbabwe recently where they played T20I games, while the regular coaching staff was engaged elsewhere.
The Indian men’s team at the Asian games will be led by Shreyas Iyer and India will field a full strength team for the tournament, which comes as a distinct change from the previous edition. Also, in the squad are a few other experienced players, including Jasprit Bumrah and the young teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Indian women’s team, also won the Gold Medal at the 2024 edition of the Asian Games, will be led by Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana will be her deputy.
Source
ESPNcricinfo