'Matlab Gold Medal toh confirm samhjo' - Fans react as VVS Laxman set to be Team India's head coach for Ireland tour and Asian Games

National Cricket Academy (NCA) chief VVS Laxman has a new challenge coming up for him. Team India are currently engaged in their multi-format tour of the Caribbean. However, after this tour, they will travel to Ireland for a three-match T20I series in August. Following this another set of players selected for the Asian Games 2022 in Hangzhou will represent the nation in the continental event.

For both commitments, VVS Laxman will preside over as the head coach of the teams. Notably, India’s first-team players will not be engaged in the said tournaments. Rather, younger and less experienced players will be given their chances. An Indian Cricket Board official confirmed Laxman’s latest appointment, as reported by Indian Express. “They have a long series (in West Indies) and as the team for Ireland is likely to be a second-string team it was thought that VVS should go with the team. He will be the coach for the Asian Games too,” the official said.

Jasprit Bumrah could be back for the Ireland tour

Laxman is working closely with injured players at the NCA in Bengaluru. These players include vital ones like Jasprit Bumrah, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul. Notably, the Ireland tour could see India’s pace ace Bumrah return to competitive cricket. He has been sidelined since September last year after suffering a back injury. According to the latest reports, he is bowling full throttle in the nets of the NCA.

It was also reported that Shreyas Iyer could accompany Bumrah on the Ireland tour. Unfortunately, the reports are not too positive for the middle-order batter. KL Rahul, on the other hand, will need some time to return to match fitness. He has been attending net sessions but a comeback in the Ireland tour or the subsequent Asia Cup 2023 is unlikely.

Here’s the team selected for the Asian Games 2022 in Hangzhou, China: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rahul Tripathi, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sundar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar, Shivam Mavi, Shivam Dube, Prabhsimran Singh (wk).

Here’s how fans reacted to VVS Laxman’s appointment:

If we are being honest VVS as a coach >>> Dravid 🤡

— DHONIverse 🇮🇳 (@91_wankhede) July 18, 2023

Test Innings loading in T20s 😂

— Rakhi Rakhi Rakhi Na Kavvasaaki (@Rakhi_Memes) July 18, 2023

Gold confirm then

— Mr Wrong (@wrong_huihui) July 18, 2023

Achievements of Rahul Dravid as a coach

- Taking rest more than players 🤣

— Activa 750 (@samosa_chutney1) July 18, 2023

We want him ICT's head coach

If you agree 👍

— FIRE⁴⁵ (@firefire0045) July 18, 2023

Make him permanent why we need Dravid when he just wants rest and in all icc event we are losing

— Dhruv (@DhruvsBoss) July 18, 2023

Hardik pandga and justin langer should be indiaa captain and coach

— Abhinand achuzz (@ravisha47243966) July 18, 2023

Another useless coach

— ®️ (@rct_mass) July 18, 2023