VVS Laxman has been named India’s interim head coach for Asia Cup 2022 in the absence of Rahul Dravid, who tested positive for Covid-19 and has not linked up with the Indian team yet in the UAE, the BCCI announced on Wednesday.
In the absence of Rahul Dravid, who tested positive for Covid-19 and has yet to join the Indian team in the UAE, VVS Laxman has been named India’s interim head coach for Asia Cup 2022, the BCCI announced on Wednesday. Laxman, the NCA chief, has previously served as interim head coach during India’s tours to Zimbabwe and Ireland (where the team played two T20Is), and has joined the rest of the Indian squad, which also includes KL Rahul, Deepak Hooda, and Avesh Khan.
“Mr. VVS Laxman, Head Cricket, NCA will be the interim Head Coach for Team India (Senior Men) for the upcoming ACC Asia Cup 2022, to be played in the UAE,” the BCCI said in a release. “Mr. Laxman, who travelled with the Indian team that played the ODI series in Zimbabwe will oversee the team’s preparation in the absence of Mr. Rahul Dravid, who tested positive for Covid-19 before the team’s departure to the UAE. Mr. Dravid will join the team once he tests negative and is cleared by the BCCI Medical Team.”
Reports of Dravid contracting Covid emerged on Tuesday when he did not travel with the Indian team to the UAE on Tuesday. The BCCI later confirmed that news that India’s head coach was indeed returned a positive result during a routine test and that he was showing mild symptoms. As stated in the release, Dravid will join the unit once he returned a negative result.
Former India coach Ravi Shastri feels that it is only a matter of time before Dravid recovers. In fact, Shastri was confident that Dravid will be back before India’s Asia Cup 2022 opener against Pakistan on Sunday. “In three-four days, it will be fine, and he will be back in the park. I don’t think it will make that much of a difference. Today, they don’t call it Covid; it’s just a bloody flu. In 3-4 days, it will be fine,” Shastri said in a press conference organised by Star Sports, the official broadcaster of Asia Cup 2022.