VVS Laxman Likely To Coach Team India On Ireland Tour: Report

Laxman to Coach India: Laxman will take over the coach's responsibility on this tour in place of head coach Rahul Dravid.

Former Indian cricketer Vangipurappu Venkata Sai (VVS) Laxman speaks at a press conference (Source: File photo/AFP)

New Delhi: Former India batsman and the current head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) VVS Laxman is likely to be appointed as the coach of the Indian team for the tour of Ireland, replacing Rahul Dravid, a BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) source told PTI. Laxman will take over the coach's responsibility on this short tour in place of head coach Rahul Dravid. The Indian team has to play only one Test match against England in July, before that the team is also scheduled to play a warm-up match against Leicestershire for the English county. 

Before the Birmingham Test, the Indian team will play a practice match against Leicestershire on June 24, according to information received from sources, Dravid and the team may leave for England on June 15 or 16. 

"In all likelihood, Laxman will be with the T20 squad in Ireland as Dravid will be busy in England with the Test team," a BCCI source told PTI.

The Indian team will play two T20 matches on the Ireland tour. The first match against Ireland will be played on 26 June and the second match will be played on 28 June. Apart from this, on July 1, the Indian team has to play the only Test match with England in Birmingham.

Laxman, who succeeded Dravid at NCA, had travelled with the triumphant India Under-19 side to the World Cup in the Caribbean recently.

There is likewise a possibility that selectors pick different squads for England and Ireland series.

A full-strength team is supposed to be picked for the England visit comprising one Test, three T20s and as numerous ODIs. 

At this time many players of the Indian team are playing IPL. After IPL, India is scheduled to play the T20I series against South Africa. In which many experienced players can be rested. It is reported that either Shikhar Dhawan will captain India or Hardik Pandya will be seen doing it. 

The T20I series against South Africa will start on June 9 and the last match is going to be played on June 19. The Indian team is going to announce the names for the T20I series against South Africa soon.