Here’s why VVS Laxman will coach Team India instead of Gautam Gambhir at Asian Games 2026

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India‘s hectic cricket schedule has created a coaching conundrum ahead of the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. While Gautam Gambhir remains the head coach of the senior men’s team, he will not be in charge of India’s campaign at the continental event. Instead, former India batter and Centre of Excellence director VVS Laxman has been entrusted with leading the coaching group.

The cricket competition at the Asian Games is scheduled to begin on September 24. India’s senior men’s team, meanwhile, will begin a three-match ODI series against the West Indies on September 27.

The narrow gap between the two assignments makes it difficult for Gambhir to oversee both campaigns effectively. As the head coach of India’s all-format senior side, his presence will be required with the main team as it prepares for the West Indies series.

Rather than stretching the coaching setup across two simultaneous assignments, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has chosen to hand the Asian Games responsibility to Laxman. The arrangement allows Gambhir to concentrate fully on the senior team while ensuring India’s Asian Games squad receives an experienced coaching unit.

For Laxman, the assignment is hardly unfamiliar territory. The former India star was part of the coaching setup when the men’s team won the gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. That experience could prove particularly valuable in Japan. Laxman already understands the unique demands of a multi-sport event and has previously worked with players outside India’s first-choice XI.

His position as director of the Centre of Excellence also gives him close exposure to several emerging Indian cricketers. That familiarity could help him get the best out of a squad made up largely of players looking to establish themselves at the international level.

Laxman has also previously stepped into the head coach’s role when India’s regular coaching staff was unavailable, giving him considerable experience of managing the team in transitional situations.

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The former India batter will have an experienced group of coaches alongside him during the Asian Games campaign. Sunil Joshi, Hrishikesh Kanitkar and Subhadeep Ghosh are among those expected to form part of the support staff. Their combined experience should provide the Indian team with a strong tactical base as they aim to defend their Asian Games title.

With several established stars occupied with the West Indies ODI series, the Asian Games squad will offer India’s next generation an important opportunity. Players outside the regular first-choice group will have the chance to perform on a major international stage while also gaining experience of playing under tournament pressure.

The decision to appoint Laxman reflects the practical challenges created by India’s crowded international calendar rather than any change in Gambhir’s position as senior head coach. Gambhir will remain focused on the West Indies ODI assignment, while Laxman takes charge of the Asian Games side in Japan.

Given his previous success at the tournament and his familiarity with India’s emerging talent, the BCCI has opted for a coach who already knows what it takes to deliver success at the event. India, under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, will therefore head into the Asian Games with a clear objective: retain the men’s cricket gold medal and give their next generation of players a chance to make their mark.

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