Reports: VVS Laxman to return as stand-in head coach for Asian Games

Indian fans have a lot of exciting cricketing action coming their way over the next few months as the 'Men in Blue' are going to play some very important tournaments. Their first assignment is the Asia Cup which begins on August 30. India's strongest team is being sent for the six-team tournament as they hope to get some ideal preparation ahead of the ODI World Cup, which is scheduled for October-November. Between these two mega events, India is also set to feature in the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided to send a second-string team for the Asian Games as the main players would be busy doing their last-minute preparations ahead of the all-important World Cup. Ruturaj Gaikwad is set to lead a young and exuberant squad in the Asian Games and it seems that he will be joined by the legendary VVS Laxman, who will serve as the head coach.

Rahul Dravid will be with the main team when the Asian Games are underway and that is why BCCI had to have someone else performing the head coach's role for the event. As per a report from Times of India, NCA chief VVS Laxman will step in as the head coach of the side that will try to win gold for India in the Asian Games. Sairaj Bahutule will accompany Laxman as the bowling coach while Munish Bali will be there as the fielding coach.

On the other hand, a star-studded Indian women's team will also take the trip to China to play the women's cricket event in the Asian Games. Hrishikesh Kanitkar will be the interim head coach while Rajib Dutta and Subhadeep Ghosh will serve as the bowling coach and fielding coach, respectively. The women's event will begin on September 26 while the men's event will get underway on September 28.