VVS Laxman, currently heading the National Cricket Academy (NCA), is anticipated to become the chief coach for the India National Cricket Team for the Australia T20I series post the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, as per a recent PTI update.

At present, under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, the Indian team is showcasing stellar performances in the World Cup 2023 on their home turf. Their upcoming endeavor is a 5-match T20I series against Australia, also hosted in India.Rahul Dravid, the primary head coach, along with his coaching crew and several players from the premier tournament, are expected to take a hiatus after the World Cup. In Dravid’s stead, Laxman is poised to helm the squad.

A source from BCCI, preferring anonymity, conveyed to PTI, “Whenever Rahul has opted for a break, VVS Laxman has stepped in, and the same arrangement is anticipated post the World Cup series.”

Reports Suggest VVS Laxman Likely to Replace Rahul Dravid as India’s Coach

Rahul Dravid’s tenure as the head coach with BCCI is nearing its end post-World Cup, and it remains uncertain if the cricket icon will remain in the role. While BCCI might express their preference for him to stay on, the ultimate choice lies with Dravid.

Speculation suggests that Dravid might re-enter the Indian Premier League (IPL) realm as a coach, given his previous associations with teams like Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals in the prominent T20 league.

Should Dravid choose to step down from the national coaching position and BCCI opens the role for new applications, VVS Laxman, the current head of NCA, emerges as a frontrunner, given his intimate knowledge of the cricketing system and pathways.

Regarding the India vs Australia T20I series, it’s anticipated that the roster will include players from the recent West Indies T20Is, Ireland T20Is, and Asian Games. Senior players might be rested, considering the upcoming significant series against South Africa. The T20I series, consisting of five matches, kicks off on November 23 in Visakhapatnam, with the finale scheduled for December 3 in Hyderabad.

The Indian Team is gearing up for another away series, in a nation where they have not won a Test series yet. Like the Australia series, India is once again hit with some injuries. They will be without Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. For now, India has five certain starters unless there is a sudden injury. KL Rahul, and Mayank Agarwal are settled at the top, while Jasprit Bumrah, Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant are other certainties. Mohammad Shami, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravichandran Ashwin are near starters, depending on the team combination.

Below are a few questions India will have to look at ahead of Boxing day

1.Bowling composition

Since Melbourne, The Indian Team has been sticking to a five-bowler strategy away from home, with Ravindra Jadeja playing the role of a spin-bowling all-rounder. This time, he isn’t a part of the squad. Ravichandran Ashwin has been on the sidelines through England, as India went with the batting strength of Jadeja, despite Ashwin’s bowling form. Ravichandran Ashwin has been a better batter though this year, with some crucial knocks, such as his effort in Sydney.

If India feels like Ashwin’s batting could hold fort, the Indian Team could back him, and play their best spinner in the first Test. Along with Ashwin, Thakur could be present to help the batting line-up, while also allowing India to play five quality bowlers.

2. The Middle-order Puzzle

Ajinkya Rahane hasn’t been in good form and is back in the country where he first made a name for himself with a spectacular 96 in Durban, back in 2013. His form is a concern, and Rahane has recently lost his Test vice-captaincy as well, indicating that he may not be a certain starter. With Vihari, and Iyer on his heels, Rahane has some tough competition, and could only make it if the Indian team feels like they need his experience.

The next debate is between Vihari and Iyer. Shreyas Iyer made a fantastic debut, but his technique against the short ball is a question. Hanuma Vihari has been in South Africa for a while, having played the A-series, and did a decent job adjusting to the conditions. He is a specialist for the Indian Team in overseas Tests and played a series-defining innings last time he turned out in whites. With just one spot likely on offer, the three batters will have some competition ahead of the first Test.

3. The Fast bowling options

The Indian Team used four pacers in England and found success. They have a wide range of pace options to pick from, with nearly six bowlers as their options. Of the six, Bumrah and Shami seem fixed. With his batting ability, Shardul Thakur could be another choice. The fourth pace option will then be a toss-up between Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, and Mohammad Siraj. Siraj’s aggression and recent form may give him the advantage, as he will likely play his first Test in South Africa.

After success in England, India is likely to go with a four-one option, and use Ashwin as the lone-spinner. There is a possibility of leaving Shardul Thakur out and playing an extra batter, but that seems unlikely.

Bio-bubbles have become a norm in the era of Covid-19. West Indies and England were the first sides to experience it, and a few months later the Indian team began their bio-bubble journey. Throughout the pandemic, cricketers have used and heard of terms such as bubble fatigue, and mental stress due to the confined space they are kept in.

The Indian team entered their first bio-bubble in September 2020. With the IPL in the UAE, each side were given a resort in which they had to quarantine, and then stay throughout the tournament. They couldn’t leave the resort unless it was for Cricket, and they only had their teammates for company. The only time they could meet another team was during the game, which lead to more multi-team interactions after a game of Cricket.

During the IPL, most of India’s multi-format players experienced the bio-bubble for the first time. Test specialists like Cheteshwar Pujara, and Hanuma Vihari travelled to the UAE mid-way to join the Test bio-bubble. Following the IPL, a contingent of over thirty players travelled to Australia for a multi-format series.

After spending two months, from September to November, the Indian team went straight to Australia. They had another two months of high-profile Cricket ahead of them. On reaching Australia, India had to face a variety of levels in bio-bubbles. While regions like Melbourne and Adelaide had some relaxation towards the bio-bubble norms, allowing the players to go out of the hotel occasionally, they also had to face certain moments with stricter protocols. Following three ODIs, three T20Is, and four Tests in Australia, the Indian team finally got to go back home.

On reaching India, they had a few days outside the bio-bubble, but had to get back in instantly for a multi-format series against England. The England side, who came up with a formula of rotating players in the bio-bubble came to India four a series from February up until March end. The side got another break from their bio-bubble journey for a few days. The break was brief as many players had to join their IPL bubbles soon. With covid-19 rising in India again, the protocols in place for the IPL were much stricter than normal.

The Indian Team was to stay in the bio-bubble through the IPL, and leave for England after the finals, for the World Test Championship finals. However, the suspension of the IPL gave the Indian Team an unplanned break. With a lot of chaos around, they were sent back home, and got to spend some time away from Cricket. A couple of weeks later, they found themselves back in Mumbai, going through a hard quarantine ahead of the England tour, and WTC Finals. They had their families with them, and once the quarantine period ended, they embarked on a three mnth long trip to England.

The protocols in England weren’t as strict, with players free to move around and interact with the public. Following the WTC Finals, the Indian Team was given a break, and could move around with freedom, although they had to remain in the UK. They were away from home, but got a month off, and finally assembled ahead of the five Test series. The first four Tests went through, but a few hurdles in the fourth Test, lead to some uneasiness in the camp. The coach, along with the physios tested, and the fifth Test was called off. Following the suspension of the series, the Indian Team made the journey back to the UAE for the IPL.

The Indian Team left India in June, reached the UAE mid-September and were facing another two months in isolation. The ongoing IPL has seen only one hurdle, with T Natarajan testing positive. Following the IPL, the Indian team will once again assemble in another bubble for the World Cup.

The World Cup is scheduled to end on November 14^th, and following the World Cup, the Indian Team will only be given a short break. They’ll have New Zealand coming over, and it is uncertain whether the players will get to go home for a few days, or step straight into the bubble for the New Zealand. The Indian Team’s future remains uncertain as they have another away assignment in South Africa. However, the side has only been out of the bubble for a couple of brief periods ever since IPL 2020 began. They have fixtures after the World Cup, and will be in more bubbles, giving them more time away from home.

While the Indian Cricket team has spent a lot of time in bio bubbles, there are sides that have been in bubbles longer than them. Pakistan for instance, is one of the sides that have been touring none stop as well. Nevertheless, the Indian Team has spent a lot off time away from home, and they are going to see a lot more time on the road in the coming months. They have used a similar group of players throughout the last two years, and expanded their bench strength by playing using second group of player in Sri Lanka.