In a significant development, veteran cricketer VVS Laxman is set to take on the role of head coach for India’s short but eagerly anticipated white-ball series against South Africa. This temporary appointment comes as the current national coach, Gautam Gambhir, prepares to head to Australia for the illustrious Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially confirmed this strategic move, as revealed by a senior BCCI official to Cricbuzz on Monday.
The series, encompassing four Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), was not something that cricket enthusiasts saw coming. It emerged after recent negotiations between the cricket governing bodies of India and South Africa, the BCCI and Cricket South Africa (CSA) respectively. Raising the stakes of the cricket calendar, India will take to the field in Durban, Gqeberha, Centurion, and Johannesburg on November 8, 10, 13, and 15 respectively. The Indian team is scheduled to embark on their South African quest around November 3, with the squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to travel on November 10-11.
Supporting Laxman in this coaching endeavor will be a team from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. Notable figures such as Sairaj Bahutule, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, and Subhadeep Ghosh will be integral specialists joining him. Bahutule, serving as the head coach, Kanitkar, the batting coach, and Ghosh, the fielding coach, were previously involved with the India Emerging side at the Asia Emerging Cup held in Oman. Additionally, Sitanshu Kotak of Saurashtra and Mazhar Moidu of Kerala, associated with the NCA, are currently accompanying the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led India A team for their Australian tour.
In preparation for this international challenge, the BCCI announced a dynamic 15-member squad dedicated to the four T20Is on October 25th. The squad will be under the accomplished leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, with promising young talents like Abhishek Sharma and the charismatic Sanju Samson donning the wicketkeeper gloves.
. Accompanying them are seasoned all-rounders and specialized players, such as Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, and a potent bowling unit spearheaded by Varun Chakaravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi.
However, this decision hasn’t been without its share of controversies and criticism. The scheduling of the South African tour intersects India’s intensely competitive domestic season, eliciting some robust opinions. Cricket legend and former India captain Sunil Gavaskar voiced concerns in his Sportstar column, pointing out the disruption this tour might cause to the national landscape. He remarked, “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.”
Yet, there’s a silver lining amidst the critique: the tour comes just ahead of the IPL auction, offering the players a golden opportunity to showcase their skills and increase their appeal to the various franchises. The T20I squad for the South Africa series includes starry-eyed cricketers who are considered potential game-changers for the impending IPL auctions. Here is the lineup: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ramandeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Avesh Khan, Yash Dayal.
As the team heads to South Africa under Laxman’s stewardship, there’s a palpable sense of anticipation and excitement. While the four-match tour signifies a detour amidst an already packed cricket itinerary, it presents a golden run for emerging talent to step up and make a mark on the international stage. Laxman’s strategic acumen, combined with the young squad’s hunger for success, promises to make this tour a significant spectacle in the cricketing realm.