VVS Laxman to guide India at Asian Games 2026.

Gambhir stays back for West Indies ODIs as India defends gold in Japan.

Former India batting great VVS Laxman has been appointed head coach of the men’s cricket team for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, stepping in while regular coach Gautam Gambhir remains in India to prepare the ODI squad for the upcoming home series against the West Indies. The Asian Games will run from September 19 to October 4, with the men’s cricket competition scheduled between September 24 and October 3.

The Ministry of Sports confirmed Laxman’s role as part of the official list of coaches and support staff. He will be supported by former cricketers Sunil Joshi, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, and Subhadeep Ghosh, while Maroof Fajandar has been named team leader. On the women’s side, Amol Muzumdar and Aavishkar Salvi will feature among the coaching staff.

India’s men’s squad will be captained by Shreyas Iyer, with Tilak Varma serving as vice-captain. Rising star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who recently became the youngest player to represent India at the senior level, joins the team alongside pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. The selection reflects a balance of youth and experience as India looks to defend its title.

Laxman is no stranger to this stage, having guided India to the gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. He has also stepped in as interim coach during several bilateral T20I series against Australia, South Africa, Ireland, and Zimbabwe, making him a trusted figure in India’s coaching setup.

The tournament format grants direct quarter-final entry to the four seeded teams- India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. The remaining six nations are divided into two groups: Afghanistan, Japan, and Nepal in Group A, while Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, and Oman form Group B. The top two sides from each group will progress to the knockout stage.

Cricket will make its fourth appearance at the Asian Games, with India entering as defending champions. The split coaching responsibilities between Gambhir and Laxman highlight the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s strategy to manage multi-format commitments, ensuring both the Asian Games squad and the ODI team receive focused preparation.

As India heads into the competition, expectations are high for Laxman to replicate his past success and maintain the country’s dominance in continental cricket.