Archive · 4 Sep 2026
VVS Laxman to Coach India at 2026 Asian Games
VVS Laxman will temporarily coach India’s men’s cricket team at the 2026 Asian Games.
Gautam Gambhir’s regular coaching staff will stay with the team playing the West Indies series.
Laxman will be helped by Sunil Joshi, Hrishikesh Kanitkar and Subhadeep Ghosh.
Amol Muzumdar will coach India’s women’s team, with Aavishkar Salvi and Munish Bali assisting him.
The men’s team will be captained by Shreyas Iyer, and the women’s team will be led by Harmanpreet Kaur.
Both Indian teams won gold medals at the previous Asian Games.
Cricket is scheduled to run until October 3, although the reports give September 17 and September 19 as different starting dates.
Some teams questioned their accommodation, while organizers said hotel rooms were being offered and teams could make their own arrangements.
VVS Laxman will lead India’s men’s cricket team at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
Sunil Joshi, Hrishikesh Kanitkar and Subhadeep Ghosh will join Laxman’s men’s coaching staff.
Amol Muzumdar will head India’s women’s team, supported by Aavishkar Salvi and Munish Bali.
The men’s coaching arrangement is separate because the Games overlap with India’s West Indies ODI series.
India’s defending champion teams will compete amid reported accommodation concerns and differing published start dates.
- Who
- VVS Laxman will coach India’s men’s team, while Amol Muzumdar will lead the women’s team; Shreyas Iyer and Harmanpreet Kaur will captain the respective squads.
- What
- India announced separate coaching arrangements for its men’s and women’s cricket teams at the 2026 Asian Games.
- When
- The Games are scheduled for 2026; cricket is reported to run from September 17 or September 19 through October 3, with India’s men beginning on September 28.
- Where
- The Asian Games will be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
- Why
- The men’s competition overlaps with India’s home ODI series against the West Indies, so Gautam Gambhir’s staff will remain with the ODI squad.
Team Concerns
Organizers’ Response
Accommodation
Team Concerns
Several top Asian teams questioned the accommodation arrangements, particularly room sizes, for the men’s and women’s T20 competitions.
Organizers’ Response
Japan Cricket Association CEO Naoki Alex Miyaji said participating cricket teams were being offered hotel accommodation and could arrange their own lodging if preferred.
Facilities and preparation
Team Concerns
Reports raised concerns about facilities and event arrangements ahead of the cricket competition.
Organizers’ Response
Miyaji said the Asian Cricket Council and the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organising Committee worked under limited time and resources to provide suitable playing facilities.
- Men’s head coach
- VVS Laxman
- Men’s coaching staff
- Sunil Joshi, Hrishikesh Kanitkar and Subhadeep Ghosh
- Women’s coaching staff
- Amol Muzumdar, Aavishkar Salvi and Munish Bali
- Men’s captaincy
- Shreyas Iyer will captain, with Tilak Varma as vice-captain
- Women’s captaincy
- Harmanpreet Kaur will captain, with Smriti Mandhana as vice-captain
- Indian contingent
- The Ministry confirmed a 768-member contingent: 503 athletes, 246 team officials and support staff, and 19 contingent staff
- Previous Asian Games result
- India’s men’s and women’s teams won gold at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games
