Head coach Gautam Gambhir will not accompany Team India on the Zimbabwe tour. According to reports, VVS Laxman will replace him. The BCCI has made this decision due to the busy schedule.

Team India Coaching Staff: After announcing the squad for the T20 series against Zimbabwe, the Board of Control for Cricket in India ( BCCI ) has also made a major decision regarding the coaching staff. According to reports, Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir will not accompany the team on the Zimbabwe tour. Former Indian batsman VVS Laxman will replace him as head coach. Laxman will also serve in this role with the Indian team at the 2026 Asian Games.

Gautam Gambhir will not go on the Zimbabwe tour

According to a report in the Times of India, given India's busy international schedule, the BCCI has decided to split coaching responsibilities between Gautam Gambhir and VVS Laxman. India will play a three-match T20 series against Zimbabwe immediately after the England tour. Given the increasingly busy schedule, Gambhir has been rested and Laxman has been given the responsibility. According to the report, former Indian cricketer Rishikesh Kanitkar will serve as batting coach alongside VVS Laxman, while former spinner Sunil Joshi will be the bowling coach. This coaching staff may remain with the Indian team for the Zimbabwe series and the Asian Games, as well as the white-ball series against Bangladesh.

He has already fulfilled this responsibility.

VVS Laxman has previously led the Indian team in the absence of the head coach on several occasions. He has extensive experience working with young players. He currently heads the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru.

A busy schedule became the reason.

The T20 series against Zimbabwe will begin on July 23. Meanwhile, the 2026 Asian Games are scheduled to be held in Japan from September 19 to October 4. During this time, the West Indies team will be touring India, playing three ODIs and five T20Is between September 27 and October 17. Due to the clashing dates of the two tournaments, Gautam Gambhir will not be able to be with both Indian teams. Consequently, Laxman will lead the Indian team in the Asian Games, while Gambhir will be with the senior team in the home series against the West Indies.

Gambhir won two ICC titles during his tenure.

Under Gautam Gambhir's coaching, India won the Champions Trophy 2025 and the T20 World Cup 2026. However, the team's performance after the World Cup was not as expected. India lost the T20 series against Ireland 0-2, and also suffered defeat in the second T20 against England. Now, VVS Laxman will face the challenge of leading a young team to a better performance in the Zimbabwe tour and the Asian Games.