National Cricket Academy head VVS Laxman could take charge of the Indian team for the five-match T20 International series against Australia, which will begin within a week of the conclusion of the ODI World Cup. Head coach Rahul Dravid’s contract expires at the end of the World Cup and of course, the BCCI has the option to ask the former India captain to reapply as the board will have to re-invite applications for the position as per norms.
It will be interesting to see if the 51-year-old Dravid wants to continue as head coach of the national team, which involves a lot of traveling and constant pressure. There is a possibility that Dravid, who has previously coached IPL teams like Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals, returns to the 10-team T20 league.
But it is highly likely that Dravid, as well as the entire squad except Suryakumar Yadav, will get the much-needed rest after a grueling campaign that saw them travel more than 10,000 km across the country.
“VVS Laxman has always been in charge whenever Rahul has taken a break and the same is likely to continue for the series just after the World Cup,” a BCCI source told PTI on condition of anonymity.
In case fresh applications are invited, Laxman could be a very strong candidate as BCCI has created a process whereby the person in charge of NCA who knows the system and pathways inside and out is groomed for the role.
Most of the T20 squad members for the Australia series will consist of players who were part of the T20 series in the West Indies, Ireland and the Asian Games as the big boys like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah will be given a break to freshen up for the big ticket series against South Africa, where India will play three T20Is, as many ODIs and two Tests.
The five-match T20 series against Australia will begin on November 23 in Visakhapatnam.
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