laxman: Rahul Dravid rested for NZ tour, VVS Laxman to coach India

National Cricket Academy chief VVS Laxman will be India’s acting head coach for the upcoming tour of New Zealand as the Rahul Dravid-led coaching staff has been given a break following the team’s exit from the T20 World Cup. India will play six white-ball games in New Zealand, including three T20 Internationals and as many One Day Internationals, starting November 18 in Wellington.

While senior players like regular captain Rohit Sharma, star batsman Virat Kohli, opener KL Rahul and spinner Ravichandran Ashwin have been rested for the tour, the entire coaching staff has also been rested after the T20 World Cup.

A BCCI source told PTI, “The NCA team led by Laxman will join the team traveling to New Zealand along with Hrishikesh Kanitkar (batting) and Sairaj Bahule (bowling).”

This will not be the first time that Laxman will take charge of the Indian team. The former cricketer had earlier coached India during tours of Zimbabwe and Ireland and the recent ODI home series against South Africa.

All-rounder Hardik Pandya will lead the team in the T20I series while veteran opener Shikhar Dhawan will lead the ODI side.

Rohit will return to lead the team in Bangladesh. Kohli and Ashwin will also return to the squad for the Bangladesh tour where India will play three ODIs and two Tests, starting December 4.

India were unceremoniously knocked out of the T20 World Cup after England lost the semi-final by 10 wickets in Adelaide on Thursday.

Members who are not part of the New Zealand leg have already started to disintegrate. While Kohli left from Adelaide, Rahul and Rohit are also expected to take off soon.

Many squad members will also participate from Sydney and Perth.

Originally published at Pen 18