VVS Laxman likely to substitute India coach Rahul Dravid in Ireland: Report

VVS Laxman, the chief of the National Cricket Academy (NCA), is likely to fill in for head coach Rahul Dravid during the two-match series in Ireland next month. The T20I games coincides with the Test squad’s preparation in England.

India will play Ireland on June 26 and 29. According to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Rohit Sharma and co will face Leicestershire County Cricket Club in Leicester from June 24, ahead of the Test series. As per Cricbuzz report, the regular Indian players would fly to England around June 16.

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Dravid will be with the Test squad. The one-off game will take place from July 1. 

“In all likelihood, Laxman will be with the T20 squad in Ireland as Dravid will be busy in England with the Test team,” a BCCI source told PTI.

Last year, when then head coach Ravi Shastri was with the team in England, Rahul Dravid, who was the NCA head, travelled with the limited overs squad to Sri Lanka.

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Laxman succeeded Dravid at NCA. He had  travelled with the triumphant India Under-19 side to the World Cup in the Caribbean earlier this year.

The Indian selectors are expected to pick different squads for the England and Ireland series.

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A full strength is likely to be picked for the England tour, which comprises one Test, three T20s and as many ODIs.

A week after the IPL final, India host South Africa for five T20 Internationals beginning June 9. The squad is expected to be picked on May 22 and all-format senior players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah are likely to be rested.