VVS Laxman to Lead India at 2026 Asian Games as Gautam Gambhir Focuses on Home ODI Series
Former Indian batting stalwart and current Director of Cricket at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, VVS Laxman, is set to take the reins as head coach of the Indian men’s team for the upcoming 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Laxman’s appointment comes as the national head coach, Gautam Gambhir, remains committed to the senior side’s domestic schedule. Gambhir will continue his duties with the main squad as they prepare for a crucial home ODI series against the West Indies, which is slated to commence on September 27.
The decision for VVS Laxman to travel with the Asian Games squad is a strategic move to balance the workload of the senior coaching staff. Laxman brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously guided the Indian men’s team to a historic gold medal victory at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
To support his campaign in Japan, the Sports Ministry has confirmed an experienced coaching panel, including former India spinner Sunil Joshi, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, and Subhadeep Ghosh.
Title Defense in Aichi-Nagoya
The cricket tournament at the 2026 Asian Games is set to begin on September 24. The Indian men’s team, led by captain Shreyas Iyer, will arrive in Japan with the singular goal of defending their T20 title. Their campaign is scheduled to open on September 28, where they will face the winner of a preliminary group involving Afghanistan, Japan, and Nepal.
The squad features a blend of seasoned campaigners and exciting young talent, including teenage batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, alongside experienced stars like Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, and Sanju Samson.
Meanwhile, the Indian women’s team is also looking to repeat their golden performance from previous outings. Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, the women’s squad will enter the competition directly at the quarterfinal stage, where they are scheduled to take on hosts Japan. Head coach Amol Muzumdar will continue to spearhead the women’s support staff, assisted by Aavishkar Salvi (bowling) and Munish Bali (fielding).
Squad Details
Indian Men’s Team: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Indian Women’s Team: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Gunalan Kamalini, Bharti Fulmali, Sree Charani, Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav, Nandani Sharma.
