New Delhi: National Cricket Academy (NCA) head VVS Laxman is reluctant to continue in his role and doesn’t want to renew his contract which ends in August, according to reports. Laxman has courted an offer from Lucknow Super Giants for the role of head coach. Based on the report, if Laxman takes the exit route, former India batting coach Vikram Rathour is likely to succeed.
The NCA in Bengaluru is an important institution for all domestic and international cricketers. Several age group camps are being held at NCA under top coaches while contracted players also come here for rehabilitation. Laxman took over from Rahul Dravid at NCA after the latter became India’s head coach in 2021.
“It is very likely that you may see Rathour heading NCA. For now, a call on VVS Laxman’s contract renewal is pending but the conversation from his side is not positive,” a source was quoted as saying to Sports Tak. “Rathour might be asked to take charge at NCA. BCCI secretary (Jay Shah) after the ICC meeting is likely to have a word with VVS to understand his side,” the source added.
Recently, Laxman went with the Indian team as the head coach in their tour of Zimbabwe. India returned home with 4-1 T20I series victory. Earlier, Laxman had filled in Dravid whenever the latter took a break. Meanwhile, Laxman heaped high praise for Dravid after India’s T20 World Cup 2024-title winning campaign in USA and the Caribbean.
“When he (Dravid) lifted the World Cup, I thought it was a great gesture by Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to hand over that trophy, and the way he celebrated lifting that trophy showed how much it meant to each one of them. The amount of hard work they put in. The celebration told the bigger story behind this victory,” Laxman said in a video posted by BCCI on X.