Senior Players Likely to be Rested For IND vs AUS T20Is Post ODI World Cup, With VVS Laxman as Coach

Senior Indian players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah could be rested for the T20 series against Australia immediately after the ODI World Cup. Indian head coach Rahul Dravid’s contract is up after the World Cup and thus National Cricket Academy (NCA) head VVS Laxman could take charge as the coach for the five-match T20Is which are scheduled to be played a week after the ODI World Cup final.

While the BCCI do have the option to ask Dravid to re-apply for the head coach role, the board will also have to reinvite applications for the top job as is the norm. And it remains to be seen whether Dravid will want to continue as India’s head coach which will involve extensive travel and pressure.

Thus, while it remains to be seen whether the 51-year-old will look to continue his role as Indian head coach, Laxman is the most likely candidate for the coaching role against Australia. Suryakumar Yadav could be in the fold for the T20I series, while the other big guns are likely to receive an extensive break following the travel of more than 10,000 km during the World Cup across their nine group stage games, perhaps more if India qualify for the semifinals.

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The Rohit Sharma-led unit are currently in the top spot for the ODI World Cup points table, having won all of their matches so far.

“VVS Laxman has always been in charge when Rahul has taken a break and same thing is likely to continue for the series just after the World Cup,” a BCCI source told PTI on condition of anonymity.

In case fresh applications are invited, Laxman could be a very strong candidate as BCCI has created a process, where the person in charge of NCA and knows the system and pathways inside out, is prepared for the role.

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Most of the members in the T20 squad for the Australia series will comprise of players, who were part of the T20 series in the West Indies, Ireland and the Asian Games as the big boys like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah will be given a break to freshen up for the big ticket series against South Africa where India play three T20Is, as many ODIs and two Tests.

The five-match T20 series against Australia will begin in Visakhapatnam on November 23.

With agency inputs