VVS Laxman To Replace Gautam Gambhir As Team India Head Coach For Asian Games 2026

India will have a change at the top of its coaching staff during the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, with VVS Laxman set to guide the men’s cricket team in place of Gautam Gambhir. Shreyas Iyer will captain the side in the tournament beginning September 24, while Gambhir will remain unavailable because India’s Asian Games campaign clashes with the team’s multi-format series against the West Indies.

The scheduling clash means India will operate with two separate teams during the period. The senior side will take on the West Indies, while Iyer’s squad will travel to Japan for the Asian Games.

Laxman To Head Coaching Setup

According to a news agency report, former India batter VVS Laxman will take over as head coach for the Asian Games campaign in Gambhir’s absence.

Sunil Joshi, Hrishikesh Kanitkar and Shubhdeep Ghosh will form part of the coaching support group, while Maroof Fajander will serve as the leader of the support staff.

The Indian squad has a strong collection of T20 players, making the team one of the leading contenders for the gold medal.

India Get Direct Quarter-Final Entry

India have avoided the group stage and will begin their Asian Games campaign in the quarter-finals.

Iyer’s first appearance in the competition will come in the second quarter-final. Pakistan will feature in the first quarter-final, while Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have also received direct entry into the last eight.

The opponents for the four directly qualified teams will be determined at a later stage.

Star-Studded Squad For Japan

India’s squad combines established names with emerging players across all departments.

Iyer will lead a batting group featuring Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan and 15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Tilak Varma, who has been named vice-captain, will be joined by Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar in the all-rounder options.

The spin attack includes Varun Chakravarty and Ravi Bishnoi, while Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana form a strong pace-bowling contingent.

Spotlight On 15-Year-Old Vaibhav Suryavanshi

Among the youngest members of the squad, Vaibhav Suryavanshi will be one of the players attracting the most attention.

The 15-year-old has already made an impact with his attacking batting in the IPL and domestic cricket. The Asian Games will give him another opportunity to perform on a major stage.

With match-winners spread across the squad, India will head into the men’s T20 competition with a strong chance of challenging for the gold medal.

India Squad For Asian Games 2026

Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (Wicketkeeper), Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma (Vice-Captain), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarty, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh and Vaibhav Suryavanshi.