As India gears up for the T20I series against South Africa, VVS Laxman, former cricketer and current head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA), took a moment to seek blessings at Ayodhya’s iconic Ram Mandir. Joined by his family, Laxman visited the temple on his birthday weekend, where he participated in traditional rituals and was honoured by the temple officials. His visit comes just days before India embarks on their South Africa tour under his leadership.
“Thank you, everyone, for all your wonderful birthday wishes in their own sweet way. Was blessed to have a wonderful darshan of Ram Lalla at Ayodhya. Jai Shri Ram,” Laxman shared on social media platform X, expressing gratitude for the memorable visit.
Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir
The Ram Mandir, an architectural masterpiece in Ayodhya, continues to attract numerous visitors, including prominent figures. The recent Pran-Pratistha ceremony in January saw significant attendance from Indian sports personalities, such as badminton star Saina Nehwal, Olympic Association President PT Usha, and legendary cricketers Anil Kumble and Venkatesh Prasad. With esteemed guests including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the temple’s reopening was a landmark national event.
Built with intricate carvings depicting Hindu deities, the temple houses the idol of Shri Ramlalla in his child form on its ground floor. Visitors enter through the eastern gate, leading up to 32 steps to the main sanctum, Singh Dwar. The temple complex is home to five Mandaps, each with unique purposes, along with the ancient Sita Koop and Kuber Tila, where a statue of Jatayu is displayed.
Dual Responsibility for VVS Laxman
VVS Laxman’s visit precedes his role as head coach for the South Africa T20 series, a position he will hold while Gautam Gambhir heads to Australia with the Indian Test team to prepare for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. This dual setup, necessitated by overlapping international commitments, means two different Indian teams will be playing in separate countries under different coaches.
Accompanying VVS Laxman to South Africa will be NCA staff members Sairaj Bahutule, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, and Subhadeep Ghosh, all of whom bring experience from various previous tours. Bahutule, for instance, served as the interim bowling coach in Sri Lanka, while Kanitkar and Subhadeep contributed as batting and fielding coaches during the Zimbabwe tour.
Fostering the Next Generation of Talent
In South Africa, Laxman will focus on nurturing emerging players as part of his ongoing mission at the NCA. Several young cricketers, including Ramandeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, and Yash Dayal, are set to make their debuts, while promising players like Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma, and Avesh Khan will gain essential international exposure. Senior players Suryakumar Yadav, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, and Arshdeep Singh will form the core of the team, with South Africa serving as an ideal ground for assessing team dynamics and individual readiness.
VVS Laxman role in building strong India T20I Squad
The South Africa tour will serve as a platform for VVS Laxman to evaluate the bench strength and emerging talent for India’s T20 setup. Players like Sanju Samson, Ravi Bishnoi, and Abhishek Sharma have a chance to solidify their places in India’s future T20I squad, hoping to eventually feature in full-strength line-ups.
India’s squad for the South Africa series includes:
- Captain: Suryakumar Yadav
- Wicketkeepers: Sanju Samson, Jitesh Sharma
- Players: Abhishek Sharma, Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ramandeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Avesh Khan, Yash Dayal
Exciting India vs South Africa T20 Series ahead
With his visit to the Ram Mandir, VVS Laxman’s journey from Ayodhya to South Africa symbolises his commitment to leading and nurturing Indian cricket. As India takes on South Africa in the T20I series, Laxman’s guidance aims to inspire both seasoned players and newcomers, marking the next phase of talent development for Indian cricket.
