VVS Laxman returns as head coach of India’s men’s cricket team at Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan; Defending champions eye gold
VVS Laxman returns to coach Indian men’s cricket team at Asian Games 2026
VVS Laxman returns to coach Indian men’s cricket team at Asian Games 2026
Laxman guided India to a gold medal at the previous edition of the Asian Games and also coached the team in a T20I series against Zimbabwe earlier this year.
Former India batter VVS Laxman will take charge as head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, which will be held from September 19 to October 4.
The men’s cricket tournament, featuring 10 teams, will take place from September 24 to October 3.
Regular head coach Gautam Gambhir will not travel to Japan with India for the Asian Games , as he will remain with the ODI team for a three-match series at home against the West Indies, beginning September 27.
Former players Sunil Joshi, Hrishikesh Kanitkar and Subhadeep Ghosh will also be part of the support staff, with Maroof Fajandar serving as the team leader.
The Indian women’s cricket team coaching setup for the Asian Games comprises regulars Amol Muzumdar and Aavishkar Salvi among others.
Shreyas Iyer has been named India’s T20 captain with Tilak Varma as his deputy.
Teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi , the youngest player to make his debut for the Indian men’s team, and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah have also been named in the 15-member squad.
VVS Laxman has previously guided India to a gold medal at the Asian Games at Hangzhou 2023 , held in the People’s Republic of China.
He has also served as India’s head coach for several bilateral T20I series against Australia, South Africa and Ireland, including the series against Zimbabwe earlier this year.
India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are the seeded teams and will begin their campaigns directly in the quarter-finals.
Afghanistan, Japan and Nepal are in Group A, while Hong Kong, China, Malaysia and Oman make up Group B. The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals.
Cricket will feature at the Asian Games for the fourth time. India, who did not participate in the first two editions that featured the sport, enter the tournament as defending champions.
T20 World Cup title, Asian Games gold on line for India in 2026
The complete list of Asian Games 2026 cricket squads