Laxman takes interim charge of a full-strength India squad for the Asian Games, and this version carries far more firepower than the side that won gold in 2023. Jasprit Bumrah and teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi are both included this time, while Gautam Gambhir stays home to prepare the senior side for a home series against the West Indies. Shreyas Iyer captains a group chasing back-to-back gold, and the calendar clash behind this arrangement says as much about India’s squad depth as it does about scheduling logistics.
The Scheduling Clash Behind The Switch
India’s home ODI series against the West Indies opens on September 27, just three days after men’s cricket begins at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya on September 24. The BCCI confirmed Gambhir will oversee those ODI duties, which double as early steps toward building the squad combination for the 2027 ODI World Cup. That left Laxman as the natural replacement, a trusted hand who has stepped in multiple times since 2022 without disrupting the team’s rhythm.
A Proven Record As Interim Coach
The interim record is difficult to argue with. He coached India to gold at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, where Ruturaj Gaikwad led a second-string squad while the main group prepared for the ODI World Cup. He also delivered a clean sweep on India’s T20I tour of Zimbabwe in July 2026, where Iyer recorded his first series win as captain, a 3-0 whitewash following earlier losses to Ireland and England.
Iyer spoke afterward about how much the daily encouragement from the coaching staff had meant to the squad throughout that tour. Laxman, in turn, praised his captain’s optimism and the team’s confident mindset heading into Japan. That relationship travels with them to the Asian Games.
VVS Laxman India Asian Games 2026 cricket
India’s 15-member squad for the 2026 Games is a clear upgrade on the 2023 group. Iyer leads, with Tilak Varma as vice-captain and Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan as wicketkeeping options. The pace attack includes Bumrah, rested for the recent tours of Ireland and England but back for the Games, alongside Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana, while Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi cover the spin department.
The standout name is 14-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who was Player of the Series on the Zimbabwe tour with 151 runs and is now the youngest player ever selected for an Indian international team at any event. Sunil Joshi, Hrishikesh Kanitkar and fielding coach Subhadeep Ghosh round out the support staff. The jump in squad strength from three years ago is stark, and it shows how seriously the BCCI now treats this tournament.
Edition | Coach | Captain | Squad Type | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2023 Hangzhou | VVS Laxman | Ruturaj Gaikwad | Second-string | Gold |
2026 Aichi-Nagoya | VVS Laxman | Shreyas Iyer | Full-strength | Title defence |
Ten Teams Chasing Gold In Aichi
The men’s tournament runs from September 24 to October 3 at the Korogi Athletic Park in Aichi, with India opening their campaign on September 28. Ten teams are competing in the T20 format. India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and hosts Japan qualified directly, while Nepal, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Oman came through the pathway.
Iyer arrives with real form behind him. He scored 218 runs in a five-match T20I series in England even as the team lost 0-4, then captained the 3-0 sweep of Zimbabwe that followed soon after. Momentum, at least, is firmly on India’s side heading into a tournament they are expected to dominate from the opening match onward.
Iyer’s Charge For Back-To-Back Gold
In 2023, India scraped through to gold on the ICC rankings after the final against Afghanistan was washed out by rain. The 2026 squad is not relying on any such twist of fortune this time. With Bumrah leading the attack and Suryavanshi at the top of the order, this group has the tools to win matches outright.
A repeat gold would validate two things at once: Laxman’s quiet authority as a mentor figure and Iyer’s credentials as India’s long-term T20I leader ahead of a packed season. The VVS Laxman India Asian Games 2026 cricket story is really about whether a fuller, stronger India squad can do on merit what a second-string side once managed by ranking alone. Laxman has never left an Asian Games without a gold medal on his coaching record, and that streak now carries real weight into Japan.
Can this full-strength India squad go back-to-back at the Asian Games? Share your prediction in the comments below.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why is Gautam Gambhir not coaching India at the Asian Games?
Gambhir is with the senior team for the home ODI series against the West Indies, which starts on September 27. That series overlaps directly with the Asian Games cricket competition being played in Japan.
Who won cricket gold for India at the 2023 Asian Games?
India won gold at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou under captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. VVS Laxman coached that second-string squad after the final against Afghanistan was abandoned due to rain.
Is cricket at the Asian Games played in the T20 format?
Yes, the Asian Games cricket competition is played entirely in the T20 format. The 2026 men’s event in Aichi-Nagoya features ten teams from September 24 to October 3.
How old is India’s youngest player at the 2026 Asian Games?
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, at 14 years old, is the youngest player ever selected for an Indian international squad. He earned his place after scoring 151 runs and winning Player of the Series in Zimbabwe.
Who captains India’s squad at the 2026 Asian Games?
Shreyas Iyer captains the 15-member squad, with Tilak Varma serving as his vice-captain. Iyer arrives in form after leading a 3-0 T20I series sweep of Zimbabwe in July 2026.