BCCI Informally Approached Laxman for Test Head Coach Role After Whitewash vs SA: Report
The Indian cricket team’s recent performance in South Africa has raised several questions about the team’s coaching staff and their strategies. The team’s 2-0 whitewash at the hands of the Proteas has led to a lot of speculation and debate about the future of the team’s coaching staff, particularly the head coach of the Test team. According to a report by PTI, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has informally approached former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman to check if he would be interested in taking over as the head coach of the Indian Test team.
The report states that the BCCI’s approach to Laxman was made after the team’s disappointing performance in South Africa, where they lost both Test matches. The BCCI officials are said to have been impressed by Laxman’s work as the “Head of Cricket” at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru and believe that he could be the right person to lead the team in the longer format of the game.
However, according to the report, Laxman has told the BCCI officials that he is happy with his current role at the NCA and is not interested in taking over as the head coach of the Test team. Laxman has been working at the NCA for several years and has been instrumental in shaping the cricketing careers of several young players. He is said to be content with his current role and does not want to take on additional responsibilities.
The report also mentions that the current head coach of the Indian team, Gautam Gambhir, has a contract that runs until the 2027 ODI World Cup. This means that even if the BCCI were to consider making changes to the coaching staff, they would have to wait until Gambhir’s contract expires or negotiate an exit strategy with him.
The BCCI’s approach to Laxman is not surprising, given his impressive credentials as a player and a coach. Laxman is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in Indian cricket history, and his experience and knowledge of the game could be invaluable to the team. However, it is also important to note that Laxman has not coached a team at the international level before, and it is unclear whether he would be interested in taking on such a role.
The Indian team’s performance in South Africa has raised several questions about the team’s preparation and strategy. The team’s batting lineup, in particular, has been a cause for concern, with several players struggling to adapt to the conditions in South Africa. The team’s bowling lineup has also been inconsistent, with several players failing to make an impact.
In the wake of the team’s poor performance, there have been calls for the BCCI to review the team’s coaching staff and consider making changes. The BCCI has a history of making changes to the coaching staff after a poor performance, and it is possible that they could consider making changes in the coming months.
However, it is also important to note that making changes to the coaching staff is not always the solution to a team’s problems. The Indian team has a talented group of players, and it is possible that they simply need to regroup and refocus after a poor performance. The team’s next assignment is a series against Australia, and it will be interesting to see how they perform.
In conclusion, the BCCI’s informal approach to VVS Laxman to check if he would be interested in taking over as the head coach of the Indian Test team is an interesting development. While Laxman has told the BCCI that he is happy with his current role, it is possible that the BCCI could consider other options in the coming months. The Indian team’s performance in South Africa has raised several questions about the team’s coaching staff and strategy, and it will be interesting to see how the team responds in the coming months.
News Source: https://repository.inshorts.com/articles/en/PTI/171ce424-2ac3-4ea7-889d-622f827f6853