Former India batter VVS Laxman will take charge of the Indian men’s cricket team at the Asian Games 2026, with regular head coach Gautam Gambhir remaining with the senior side for its home ODI series against the West Indies. The coaching arrangement was confirmed through the list of coaches and support staff approved for India’s Asian Games contingent on September 3.
The decision comes as India prepare for two major assignments in the same period. The Asian Games cricket competition will be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, while India’s three-match ODI series against West Indies begins at home on September 27. The ODI matches are scheduled for Thiruvananthapuram, Guwahati and New Chandigarh.
VVS Laxman Asian Games 2026 coaching role confirmed
The VVS Laxman Asian Games 2026 appointment gives the former India batter another opportunity to work with the national side at a major multi-sport event.
Laxman is currently Director of Cricket at the BCCI Centre of Excellence and has considerable experience working with India’s senior and developmental squads. He also coached the Indian men’s team at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, where India won the gold medal.
For the 2026 campaign, Laxman will be supported by former India cricketers Sunil Joshi and Hrishikesh Kanitkar, along with Subhadeep Ghosh. The coaching group will work with a squad led by Shreyas Iyer.
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Why Gautam Gambhir will stay with India’s ODI team
Gautam Gambhir remains India’s regular senior men’s head coach, but he will not accompany the Asian Games squad to Japan.
The reason is the clash between the continental tournament and India’s home West Indies ODI series. The BCCI announced in March that West Indies would tour India for three ODIs beginning September 27. The first ODI is scheduled in Thiruvananthapuram on September 27, followed by matches in Guwahati on September 30 and New Chandigarh on October 3.
That scheduling overlap makes it practical for Gambhir to remain with the senior ODI group while Laxman oversees the Asian Games campaign.
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The arrangement should also provide continuity for the senior ODI side while giving India’s Asian Games squad a coach with previous experience of the competition.
India will defend its Asian Games cricket title
India enter the tournament as the defending Asian Games champions in men’s cricket. Laxman was also in charge when India won gold at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
The 2026 edition will take place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Cricket will be played in the T20 format, with the competition scheduled at Korogi Athletic Park in Nisshin City.
India’s men’s squad announced earlier by the BCCI includes captain Shreyas Iyer, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
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The selection gives the tournament a strong Indian contingent, while also creating an opportunity for players to gain experience in a major international multi-sport environment.
Laxman brings previous Asian Games experience
One of the biggest advantages of the VVS Laxman Asian Games 2026 assignment is his familiarity with the tournament environment.
Laxman already experienced the Asian Games coaching role in 2023, when India claimed the men’s cricket gold medal. His current responsibilities at the BCCI Centre of Excellence also involve player development, fitness management and India’s wider high-performance structure.
That background could be particularly valuable in a tournament involving a relatively compressed schedule. Rather than simply reproducing the preparation model used for a bilateral series, the coaching staff will need to manage players across short turnaround periods and potentially changing match conditions.
The presence of experienced support coaches such as Joshi and Kanitkar should further strengthen India’s preparation for the competition.
Read more: Official Aichi-Nagoya 2026 cricket information
A busy period for Indian cricket
The split coaching arrangement highlights how crowded India’s international calendar has become.
The Asian Games run from September 19 to October 4, while the men’s cricket competition begins on September 24. India are scheduled to begin their men’s campaign on September 28.
At the same time, the senior side will be involved in the West Indies series. The first ODI takes place on September 27, meaning the two assignments overlap directly.
The BCCI therefore has separate coaching leadership for the two teams rather than attempting to stretch one coaching unit across both competitions. This allows Laxman to concentrate on the Asian Games squad while Gambhir focuses on the senior ODI group.
What the appointment means for India
The VVS Laxman Asian Games 2026 role is significant because India are not approaching the tournament simply as participants. They are the defending men’s champions and will be expected to compete strongly for another gold medal.
Laxman’s previous success at the 2023 Games gives him direct experience of what is required. At the same time, the coaching setup gives India an opportunity to maintain separate preparation plans for the Asian Games and the senior ODI series.
The arrangement also highlights the depth of India’s wider cricket structure. With Laxman, Gambhir and their respective support teams working on different assignments, the BCCI can manage overlapping international commitments without placing the entire workload on a single coaching group.
VVS Laxman Asian Games 2026: What to expect
The VVS Laxman Asian Games 2026 assignment puts the former India star back in charge of the men’s team at a tournament where he already has a successful coaching record.
India will head to Japan aiming to retain their Asian Games cricket crown, while Gambhir remains responsible for the senior ODI side against West Indies. The two assignments will therefore run simultaneously, but with clearly divided coaching responsibilities.
For Indian cricket, the arrangement offers both continuity and flexibility. Laxman knows the Asian Games environment, while Gambhir can concentrate fully on the senior team’s home ODI commitments.
With India entering Japan as defending champions, Laxman’s challenge will be to build on the success of 2023 and guide another strong squad through the tournament.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who will coach India’s men’s cricket team at the Asian Games 2026?
Ans. VVS Laxman will coach India’s men’s cricket team at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. He will be supported by Sunil Joshi, Hrishikesh Kanitkar and Subhadeep Ghosh.
2. Why is Gautam Gambhir not coaching India at the Asian Games?
Ans. Gautam Gambhir will remain with the senior Indian team because India’s home ODI series against West Indies overlaps with the Asian Games cricket competition.
3. Who is India’s captain for the Asian Games 2026 cricket team?
Ans. Shreyas Iyer was named captain of India’s men’s Asian Games cricket squad by the BCCI.
4. Did VVS Laxman coach India at the previous Asian Games?
Ans. Yes. Laxman coached India’s men’s cricket team at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, where India won the gold medal.
5. When will India play their first men’s cricket match at the Asian Games 2026?
Ans. India are scheduled to play their first men’s cricket match on September 28, with the team entering directly at the quarter-final stage.
