(AFP Photo)
Vikram Rathour, former batting coach of the Indian men’s cricket team whose contract expired last month, is poised to succeed VVS Laxman as the next head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. Reports from Sports Tak indicate that Laxman’s tenure as NCA head concludes in September, with no plans for renewal.
“It is very likely that you may see Rathour heading NCA. For now, a call on VVS Laxman’s contract renewal is pending, but the conversation from his side is not positive,” the source was quoted as saying by Sports Tak.
However, any official announcement will be deferred until BCCI secretary Jay Shah returns from Sri Lanka, where he is currently attending the ICC’s annual general meeting. Upon his return, Shah plans to discuss the matter with VVS Laxman.
“Rathour might be asked to take charge at NCA. The BCCI secretary (Jay Shah) after the ICC meeting is likely to have a word with VVS to understand his side,” the source added.
Vikram Rathour, aged 55 and a former Indian cricketer with six Tests and seven ODIs to his name during a two-year international career, assumed the role of India’s batting coach in August 2019 following the conclusion of Sanjay Bangar’s tenure. He continued in this role when Rahul Dravid took over as head coach of the Indian team in November 2021.
Former India middle-order batsman Laxman took over as NCA head in November 2021 after Rahul Dravid’s tenure, and recently served as India’s interim head coach during the five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe earlier this month. With Dravid’s contract ending and Gautam Gambhir not confirmed as head coach, Laxman assumed the role, guiding the young Indian team led by Shubman Gill to bounce back from an initial defeat and clinch the series 4-1.
This wasn’t Laxman’s first stint as India’s interim head coach. He previously held the role during the five-match T20I series against Australia last year, and also served as interim head coach during India’s tours of Ireland and the India-South Africa ODI series in October 2022.
