The BCCI is in a spot of bother. Already hunting for a head coach with Rahul Dravid’s contract coming to an end after the T20 World Cup 2024, they now have to also worry about finding a new National Cricket Academy (NCA) head. VVS Laxman, who’s been in charge of the NCA since September 2021.
VVS Laxman to be India’s new head coach?
With Dravid leaving, the BCCI wants his good friend, Laxman, to take over the role of the India cricket team’s head coach. However, the NCA head isn’t catching what the board has been throwing at him. Despite his refusal to accept the job, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah is adamant about having him involved.
There are two reasons why Jay Shah wants to have Laxman involved with the BCCI, with Dravid set to leave. One is to run the new state-of-the-art NCA facility, which will be inaugurated in Bengaluru in the coming months (August). The facility will be on par with Cricket Australia’s High-Performance Centre in Brisbane, which is thought of as the best in the world.
The second is to ensure the Indian cricket team doesn’t face a crisis with a transition coming. With senior pros like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin nearing the end of their careers, BCCI wants VVS Laxman to be present. Of course, two big upcoming away Test series against Australia and England are also on their minds, and if not as a coach, they are willing to have him as a red-ball consultant.
“It will be completely up to Jay but he has to convince VVS to be a part of the Indian set-up, at least when they play red ball series. If he is not willing to work full-time, he can always be the consultant when India play marquee red-ball series in Australia this year and England next year,” a former BCCI office-bearer told PTI.
IPL reason behind Laxman leaving?
The Indian great isn’t interested in renewing his contract, with a lucrative IPL gig waiting for him. The former batter has coached Indian cricket teams, including A and Under-19 sides, and was involved with the Sunrisers Hyderabad for 9 years. If not as a mentor or coach, Laxman can also turn back into an analyst and commentator, having found success in that field as well.
“Not to forget his magnanimity when he agreed to work for a lesser pay package compared to what he was making as mentor of Sunrisers Hyderabad and as an expert with one of the broadcasters,” the anonymous BCCI source added.
Indian Cricket
Laxman chooses family over India job
One has to also remember that when Laxman became the NCA head, he was persuaded by former BCCI President Sourav Ganguly to shift from his home state of Hyderabad to Bengaluru. He’s continued to work from there since, but being away from his family for so long has swayed his desire to continue working as an NCA head and staying in Bengaluru.
“Unlike Dravid, Laxman had to shift his base from Hyderabad to Bengaluru. But he did so reluctantly with former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah managing to convince the India batting great,” the source added.
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