VVS Laxman named the interim head coach of Team India for the Asia Cup 2022. Rahul Dravid’s availability for the Asia Cup was called into question after he tested positive for coronavirus on Tuesday.
A day after Indian cricket team head coach Rahul Dravid tested positive for COVID-19. VVS Laxman, the head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) named interim head coach of the team for the 2022 Asia Cup. Dravid’s participation in the Asia Cup was called into question after he tested positive for coronavirus on Tuesday. It is worth noting that Dravid did not accompany the team to Zimbabwe for the three-match ODIs, which concluded on Monday. Laxman was the team’s coach in Zimbabwe.
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BCCI: VVS Laxman will be the interim Head Coach
The BCCI announced in a statement that “Mr VVS Laxman, Head Cricket, NCA, will be the interim Head Coach for Team India (Senior Men) for the upcoming ACC Asia Cup 2022, to be played in the UAE.”
“In the absence of Mr Rahul Dravid, who tested positive for COVID-19. Before the team’s departure to the UAE, Mr Laxman. Who travelled with the Indian team that played the ODI series in Zimbabwe, will oversee the team’s preparation.”
The BCCI also stated that Dravid could rejoin the team in the future if he tests negative for COVID-19. “Mr Dravid will join the team after passing a drug test and being clear by the BCCI Medical Team. Laxman arrive in Dubai with vice-captain Mr KL Rahul. Mr Deepak Hooda, and Mr Avesh Khan, who travel from Harare ” The BCCI statement supplemented.
Team India will face archrivals Pakistan in their first match of the tournament on August 28. Rohit Sharma will captain the team for the Asia Cup, while former captain Virat Kohli has returned to the squad after a brief absence. Due to an injury, premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the tournament.
The squad includes three specialist spinners: Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Ravi Bishnoi. The two all-rounders are Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja.
The two batting options are Deepak Hooda and Suryakumar Yadav.
In Bumrah’s absence, the pace attack will be led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, with Avesh Khan and Arshdeep Singh rounding out the squad. Harshal Patel, a death overs specialist, is also out due to injury. As back-ups, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, and Deepak Chahar have been named.
India’s squad for Asia Cup:
Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan
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