Gautam Gambhir's appointment on hold? VVS Laxman may coach India in the Zimbabwe series - Reports

The Board of Control for Cricket in India have made some significant progress over the head coach role. As time passes, current coach Rahul Dravid's tenure is gradually coming to an end as Team India plays the T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies. One of the biggest names currently being regarded for the job is Gautam Gambhir, who seems to be in line as Dravid's successor, but a formal announcement is yet to be made by the cricket board. Interestingly, it looks like the BCCI may have delayed the announcement of the coach as some significant developments have come forward.

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Gautam Gambhir will not coach India in Zimbabwe tour? NCA Chief to take charge - Reports

Expectations were ramping up that after Gautam Gambhir or whoever the BCCI would elect as the coach, they would begin their stint with the upcoming Zimbabwe series. Since it is right after the T20 World Cup, it was touted as the ideal time to break in for the new coach. However, it looks like the announcement may have been delayed as sources are saying that VVS Laxman and his NCA Staff will be a part of the Indian team contingent which will travel to Zimbabwe.

According to PTI, VVS Laxman, chief of the National Cricket Academy (NCA), will join the Indian squad in Zimbabwe for the whole series. Laxman and his NCA support team will join the Men in Blue for the T20I series next month. The BCCI is set to select India's T20I squad later this week, and the selectors may target some aspiring players, which includes the top performers in the IPL 2024 season. Suryakumar Yadav or Hardik Pandya will lead the side against Zimbabwe in the T20I series.

"There is a possibility that Laxman along with some of the NCA coaches will travel with the new look squad to Zimbabwe. Laxman and the NCA team has always filled up whenever Rahul Dravid and the first team coaches have been taking periodic breaks during their stint," a BCCI source said as per reports.

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Gautam Gambhir is deemed the frontrunner for the role, and he was interviewed by the Cricket Advisory Committee panel. Another big name on the run is VW Raman, who also appeared in front of the CAC via a Zoom call. It is yet to be seen on whom will the BCCI appoint for the role.