VVS Laxman will coach India’s men’s cricket team at the Asian Games 2026 in Japan. Laxman returns to the role after guiding India to gold at the 2023 Asian Games. Gautam Gambhir will remain with India’s senior team during the West Indies ODI series.
India will begin their campaign on September 28 with a quarter-final. Shreyas Iyer will captain the side, while Jasprit Bumrah features among the senior players selected for the tournament.
The appointment comes amid an important scheduling clash for Indian cricket. Here is a look at why Laxman takes charge, India’s coaching staff, squad, and route to the final.
VVS Laxman Takes Charge of India’s Asian Games Campaign
VVS Laxman will take charge as coach of India’s men’s cricket team for the Asian Games 2026. He currently serves as the head of the BCCI Centre of Excellence, making the assignment a natural fit within India’s cricket structure.
Laxman also brings previous experience from the same event after coaching India at the 2023 Asian Games.
India won the men’s gold medal in Hangzhou under Laxman’s guidance. His return gives the team a coach who already understands the demands of the Asian Games and its knockout format.
Laxman will have Hrishikesh Kanitkar, Sunil Joshi and Subhadeep Ghosh alongside him. The coaching group combines experience across batting, bowling, fielding and player development, giving India a well-rounded support setup.
Why Will VVS Laxman Coach India’s Asian Games Campaign Instead of Gautam Gambhir?
VVS Laxman will coach India’s Asian Games Campaign because Gautam Gambhir must remain with the senior team for the West Indies ODI series. The first ODI is scheduled for September 27, while India’s Asian Games campaign begins on September 28.
The scheduling clash means Gambhir cannot travel with the Asian Games squad. The West Indies series also concludes on October 3, the same day as the Asian Games cricket final.
Laxman can therefore focus on India’s campaign in Japan while Gambhir handles the senior ODI assignment. His existing role at the BCCI Centre of Excellence also makes him a familiar choice for the temporary coaching responsibility.
VVS Laxman Brings Experience From India’s 2023 Gold
VVS Laxman has previous experience coaching India at the Asian Games, having guided the men’s team to gold in Hangzhou in 2023.
India entered the knockout stage directly and won the tournament under his leadership. The success gives Laxman valuable experience ahead of another Asian Games campaign.
His previous assignment also involved managing a squad built around younger players. The experience should help him understand the demands of preparing players for a short T20 competition.
Laxman’s wider work with India’s emerging cricketers adds further value to his appointment. His role at the BCCI Centre of Excellence keeps him involved with player development beyond the senior international setup.
India’s Strong Squad for Asian Games 2026
India have selected a 15-member squad for the Asian Games 2026 in Japan. The squad brings together experienced international players and emerging talent for the men’s T20 competition.
Here are the India Men’s squads for the Asian Games 2026:
Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy.
Asian Games 2026 India Cricket Team Schedule
India’s men’s cricket team will begin its Asian Games 2026 campaign in the quarter-finals on September 28, 2026. The match starts at 10:30 AM IST, or 2:00 PM local time, with India’s opponent yet to be finalized.
The quarter-final will take place at Aichi Prefectural Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan. India has secured direct entry into the knockout stage and will not play a preliminary-round fixture.
How Has the Men’s Cricket Team Gained Direct Entry Into the Quarter-Finals of Asian Games 2026?
The India men’s cricket team gained direct entry into the quarter-finals of the 2026 Asian Games because of their high ranking and status as an ICC Full Member.
The tournament format automatically seeds the top four teams directly into the knockout stage. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka therefore bypass the preliminary round and enter the competition in the quarter-finals.
The seeding gives India a direct route into the medal stages. Their campaign will begin with a knockout match, making the opening fixture immediately significant.
India’s Route to the Asian Games 2026 Final
India will enter the knockout stage directly in the quarter-finals on September 28. The team will face the second-placed side from Group A, which contains Afghanistan, Japan and Nepal.
A victory would send India into the semi-finals on October 1. The remaining knockout fixtures will determine India’s possible opponent, with the final scheduled for October 3.
IA win in the quarter-final advances India to the semi-finals on October 1, with the Gold Medal match scheduled for October 3. This means winning two consecutive matches guarantees India a spot in the final.
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Conclusion
India’s decision to appoint VVS Laxman gives the Asian Games campaign an experienced coach with previous success at the event. His return also provides continuity after India’s gold-medal campaign in Hangzhou.
The coaching change results from the scheduling overlap between the Asian Games and the West Indies ODI series. Laxman can therefore focus on the Asian Games while Gautam Gambhir remains with the senior ODI squad.
India will begin their title defence in the quarter-finals on September 28. The team will then need successive knockout victories to retain the men’s cricket gold medal in Japan.
