VVS Laxman will be the head coach of Team India for the 2026 Asian Games. The decision to appoint him is expected to be followed by the Indian cricket team because of the huge international schedule that has seen the BCCI split coaching responsibilities, with the Indian cricket team being so busy in the future.
Laxman is currently the head of the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. He held the Indian team interim coach role overseas as well. The upcoming Asian Games will give him another opportunity to lead an Indian side on the international stage.
Laxman To Handle Asian Games Assignment
According to the report, Laxman will coach India during the 2026 Asian Games in Japan. He will also take charge during India’s Zimbabwe T20I series.
This is due to the overlap in India's cricket calendar. The Asian Games are scheduled from September 19 to October 4; India's home series against the West Indies will also be during this period. This has led the BCCI to split the coaching responsibilities.
Gautam Gambhir, the head coach of India’s regular men’s team, is expected to remain with the senior team for the home game. Laxman will oversee the team for the Asian Games.
This does not mean that Laxman is replacing Gambhir as India's permanent head coach. Rather, the arrangement is being made because of the busy schedule and overlapping assignments.
Why is BCCI splitting coaching duties?
India's cricket calendar has become increasingly crowded, and multiple international assignments are scheduled close to each other.
The Asian Games will be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan from September 19 to October 4. Cricket is a part of the Games programme with men's and women's T20 tournaments on the calendar. India are the defending champions in both events.
At the same time, the Indian men's senior team has other international commitments.
Instead of sending the same coaching group to each assignment, the BCCI has decided to divide the responsibilities. This also allows Gambhir to stay with the senior team while Laxman oversees the Asian Games squad.
The arrangement allows Laxman to work with a group of players that could include some younger or less experienced members of the Indian setup.
🚨 VVS LAXMAN AS HEAD COACH OF INDIA 🚨
— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) September 3, 2026
- VVS Laxman will be the Team India's Head Coach in the Asian Games 2026. (Kushan Sarkar). pic.twitter.com/rA2xPqBx3q
Laxman has previous experience as Interim Coach
This will not be Laxman's first stint as India's coach.
He has previously taken charge of the Indian team when the regular coaching staff was unavailable. He also served as India's head coach during the 2022 and 2024 Zimbabwe assignments and other short tours.
At home, he is also familiar with Indian cricket as a national talent.
Laxman has also been involved in India's player development through his role at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
His experience would be useful at the Asian Games as India will have several players in the team that are not regular members of the senior team.
Sunil Joshi And Hrishikesh Kanitkar Expected To Join
Laxman is expected to have a familiar support staff during the assignment.
The former India spinner Sunil Joshi will likely serve as the bowling coach, while former India batsman Hrishikesh Kanitkar is expected to be part of the batting coaching staff. Both have previously worked with Indian teams and were involved with India A.
The same coaching group is expected to continue for the Asian Games assignment.
This would give Laxman a support team with experience in working with Indian players and the country's domestic cricket structure.
India are defending Asian Games Champions
India won the men's cricket gold medal at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2023, which was postponed. The Indian women also won gold at the tournament.
Cricket will return to the 2026 Asian Games, and once again the T20 format will be used. India will be the defending champions in both men's and women's events.
So the Asian Games provide another opportunity for India to strengthen its position in continental cricket.
The tournament may also provide the young players with some good exposure to international competition.
Gambhir's Role Remains Unchanged
While Laxman has been appointed for the Asian Games assignment, there is no indication that he is going to replace Gambhir as India’s head coach permanently.
Gambhir is still the regular head coach of the senior men’s team. The split is mainly due to the scheduling conflict that is created by the Asian Games and India’s other international commitments.
Laxman's appointment should therefore be viewed as a temporary coaching arrangement for a specific assignment rather than a change at the top of India’s coaching structure.
With the Asian Games coming up, Laxman will now have to prepare the Indian team for another attempt to win the cricket gold medal.
