VVS Laxman To Be India Men’s Cricket Team Head Coach for Asian Games 2023; Hrishikesh Kanitkar To Take Charge of Women’s Team in Hangzhou: Report
The NCA head will step in for Rahul Dravid, who will be busy with the senior men's team as they prepare and compete at the ICC World Cup 2023. Hrishikesh Kanitkar would be returning to his role with the Indian women's cricket team since leading them to the semifinal of the T20 World Cup earlier this year.
VVS Laxman is set to be the head of the Indian men's cricket team at the Asian Games 2023. The former cricketer, who is currently serving as the National Cricket Academy (NCA) chairman, will step in Rahul Dravid's shoes when he guides the Men in Blue at the upcoming Asian Games in China, according to a report in the Times of India. Ruturaj Gaikwad will be leading the Indian men's team, which comprises mostly young players since the seniors will be busy with the World Cup. Hrishikesh Kanitkar on the other hand, is set to be interim head coach of the women's side in Hangzhou. The Asian Games 2023 starts on September 23. Cricket at Asian Games 2023: Check Team India Men’s and Women’s Full Squads for Continental Multi-Sport Event.
As per an update shared by the BCCI earlier this month, Laxman was involved in a high-performance camp at the NCA for young players. Laxman had earlier stepped in as the head coach for Team India in Rahul Dravid's absence. After Dravid tested positive for COVID-19 last year, he was named interim head coach of the Men in Blue for Asia Cup 2022 which was held in the UAE. He was also at the helm of India's white-ball tour of New Zealand last year. He will be accompanied by Sairaj Bahutule as the bowling coach and Munish Bali as the fielding coach at the Asian Games. Cricket at Asian Games 2023: Schedule, Live Telecast, Online Streaming, Team India Squads and All You Need to Know.
Kanitkar would hope to continue from where he left off with the Indian women's team. He was in charge when the Harmanpreet Kaur-led outfit had reached the semifinal of the T20 World Cup earlier this year, which was played in South Africa. The Indian women's team had suffered a heartbreaking defeat against eventual winners Australia, who beat hosts South Africa in the final. Former spinner Nooshin Al Khadeer had stepped in as the head coach for the women's team in their tour of Bangladesh but the BCCI is yet to make a permanent appointment for that role. Also, in a big blow, Harmanpreet Kaur is set to miss two matches in the Asian Games after she was suspended by the ICC for violation of their code of conduct in her criticism of umpires during the third ODI against Bangladesh.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 27, 2023 11:25 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).