Amidst the excitement surrounding the upcoming five-match Test series between India and England, there's been a change in the Indian team's leadership structure for the initial phase of preparation. With head coach Gautam Gambhir temporarily unavailable due to his mother's illness, veteran VVS Laxman will step in to oversee the team's preparations.
Gambhir had traveled with the team to England, aiming to get a head start by supervising India A's matches against England Lions. However, he had to abruptly return to India on June 12 after his mother suffered a heart attack and was admitted to the ICU. While Gambhir is expected to rejoin the squad by June 17, his presence during the crucial initial days of acclimatization will be missed. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has extended its full support to Gambhir during this challenging time, emphasizing that his return date hinges entirely on his mother's recovery.
In Gambhir's absence, VVS Laxman, the Head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA), will take charge. Laxman is already in London, initially for the India U-19 team's tour of the United Kingdom, which includes five Youth ODIs and two Youth Test matches against the home team. He will now also oversee the senior team's training and preparations until Gambhir's return. This isn't Laxman's first stint with the senior national team; he has previously stepped in as a stand-in coach when Rahul Dravid and the regular coaching staff were on breaks. In 2024, he also accompanied the Suryakumar Yadav-led T20I team to South Africa for a five-match series.
The India vs England Test series is scheduled to begin on June 20 at Headingley, Leeds, marking the start of a new era for the Indian team. Following the retirements of veteran players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from Test cricket, Shubman Gill will be leading a relatively young squad in this challenging series. The team is currently participating in an intra-squad practice game to get accustomed to the English conditions.
The Test series schedule includes matches at prominent venues like Edgbaston in Birmingham (starting July 2), Lord's in London (starting July 10), Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester (starting July 23), and The Oval in London (starting July 31). This series is also significant as it marks India's first assignment in the 2025-2027 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
While Gambhir is away, the team's support staff, including assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate, bowling coach Morne Morkel, and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, are working to maintain continuity in the team's preparations. Ten Doeschate will also take charge of the fielding department. The BCCI had earlier announced changes to the support staff, with Adrian Le Roux set to replace Soham Desai as the strength and conditioning coach, and a new recovery specialist will be appointed.
Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has expressed confidence in India's chances, stating that the team is in "safe hands" and possesses "enough talent" to defeat England. However, he also acknowledged the toughness of playing in English conditions and stressed the importance of the young squad making its mark. With a blend of experienced veterans and fresh talent, the Indian team is aiming to start this new chapter on a positive note. The team management has emphasized strategy secrecy, opting for closed-door warm-up games to keep England guessing about their plans and combinations.
