Follow UsFormer India batter VVS Laxman will be India Men's head coach, while Hrishikesh Kanitkar will don the same role with the women's side at the Asian Games 2023 scheduled to be held in Hangzhou, China, according to a report in Times of India. Cricket will be played at the Asian Games between September 28 and October 7.
This will not be the first time Laxman is acting as the head coach of the side. Previously, he had travelled with the team to Zimbabwe and Ireland in a similar capacity. Kanitkar, on the other hand, was in charge of the women's side during the T20 World Cup in South Africa earlier this year. Rajib Dutta (bowling coach) and Subhadeep Ghosh (fielding coach) will also travel with Kanitkar for the Asian Games.
Kanitkar has taken up the role on an interim basis as the BCCI have not zeroed in on a permanent solution following the exit of Ramesh Powar in December 2022.
The Indian men's side have fielded a new-look and young side, which will be led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, while the women's side have named a full-fledged squad for the tournament, which Harmanpreet Kaur will lead.
India, under the tutelage of Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma, will be preparing for the World Cup in October-November. The Asiad finals will be played on October 7, a day before India begin the World Cup campaign against Australia.
As many as 15 men's teams will participate in the tournament, compared to just nine from the women's category.