VVS Laxman to continue leading the National Cricket Academy as its head

Former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman is set to stay on as the head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA). His current contract, which was set to end in September, will now be extended by at least another year, according to a report by ESPNCricinfo on August 15.

Laxman’s team of coaches

Laxman, who had an impressive career with 134 Test matches over 16 years, will continue to work alongside his coaching team. This includes Shitanshu Kotak, Sairaj Bahutule, and Hrishikesh Kanitkar.

New NCA campus in Bengaluru

The news of Laxman’s extension comes just as the NCA is about to open a new, state-of-the-art campus on the outskirts of Bengaluru. In an earlier interview, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah hinted that Laxman’s contract would be extended, saying, “His contract ends in September, but he will continue.”

Laxman’s journey at the NCA

Laxman took over as NCA head after Rahul Dravid moved on to become the head coach of Team India in 2021. Over the past three years, Laxman has led the NCA and stepped in as India’s interim head coach for several white-ball series when Dravid was unavailable. Most recently, he guided the Indian team to a 4-1 victory over Zimbabwe in a five-match series last month.

Speculations about Laxman’s future

Last month, reports suggested that Laxman might not want to extend his contract and that former India batting coach Vikram Rathour could take over. There were also rumors that Laxman was in talks with IPL franchises about a mentor role, but those plans seem to be on hold due to his NCA commitments.

Looking ahead: Possible T20I series in South Africa

If Laxman does sign the extension, he is likely to accompany the Indian team as head coach for a four-match T20I series in South Africa this November. At the same time, Gautam Gambhir, who is the official head coach, will be in Australia with the senior team, preparing for the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which begins on November 22 in Perth.

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