VVS Laxman is all set to don the role of India’s stand-in head coach for their upcoming tour of South Africa. India are scheduled to play four T20Is in the Rainbow Nation.
According to Cricbuzz, the decision was informed to them by one of the top officials who works in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Gautam Gambhir who took over the role as the head coach will be on the flight to Australia where India play five Tests in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India’s current series against New Zealand is scheduled to finish on the 5th of November and the team is expected to depart for Australia on either the 10th or 11th of November.
Hence, Laxman is likely to step in as the coach for the four-match T20I series which starts on the 8th of November in Durban. Sairaj Bahutule, Hrishikesh Kanitkar and Subhadeep Ghosh are likely to accompany Laxman as the support staff on the tour to South Africa. All these three were a part of the coaching setup of the India Emerging side for the recently concluded Asia Emerging Cup which was played in Oman.
This T20I series against South Africa was not originally in the Future Tours and Programme (FTP). It was scheduled only in June earlier this year. It was only last year that India toured South Africa and played all three formats. The three-match T20I series was drawn 1-1 while India won the ODI series 2-1. The two-match Test series was drawn 1-1.
Sunil Gavaskar unhappy with South Africa T20Is
This last-minute arrangement did not sit well with legend Sunil Gavaskar. He called this upcoming T20I series ‘needless’ and felt that the top 50-60 cricketers of the country will be missing the Ranji Trophy which is the premier red-ball tournament in India.
“Next month, there’s a needless four-match T20 series in South Africa before the tour to Australia. There will also be an ‘A’ team touring Australia next month, so effectively about 50 to 60 players will not be available for their State teams in the premier national tournament, the Ranji Trophy,” Sunil Gavaskar wrote in the Sportstar earlier this month.
The BCCI have already announced the squad for the 15-man squad for the T20I series which will be led by Suryakumar Yadav.
