Rohit Juglan in London
With Gautam Gambhir still in India, tending to his ill mother, VVS Laxman is expected to oversee India’s preparation for the Headingley Test until his return. Laxman, who heads the National Cricket Academy (NCA), is already in London ahead of India Under-19s’ month-long tour of the United Kingdom.
The junior side will play five ODIs starting June 27, with two Tests scheduled for Beckenham and Chelmsford in July. Aside from his academy duties, Laxman continues to coach the Under-19 and A teams. In Gambhir’s absence, he also guided a second-string India team in a T20 series in South Africa late last year.
India finish their intra-side practice match at Beckenham today, and will then journey to Leeds, where the first Test starts on June 20. Gambhir, who flew back to India last Wednesday after his mother suffered a heart attack, is expected to return before the start of the game.
But with a new-look and inexperienced side, and plenty of questions over selection, Laxman is expected to preside over the main squad until Gambhir is back. Over the past decade, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has insisted on close coordination between the senior and A/youth teams, and most of those in the main squad have worked with Laxman in the past.
As for the intra-squad match, Sarfaraz Khan scored a century for India A after the first XI had batted first. That further complicates the selection picture, with Karun Nair having made a double-century in the first game against England Lions.