National Cricket Academy (NCA) head VVS Laxman is reportedly penciled in as stand-in coach for India’s tour to Zimbabwe in July. India is slated to play 5 T20Is in Zimbabwe after the T20 World Cup 2024 ends.

The tenure of Rahul Dravid as India's head coach will end after the ongoing ICC event and hence VVS Laxman and his support staff at the National Cricket Academy might go to Zimbabwe with the Indian team.

The squad for the Zimbabwe series is expected to be announced at the end of this week, on either June 22 or 23. The young IPL performers, including the BCCI's 'targeted list of players', are currently attending a camp at the NCA under Laxman's supervision.

On the other hand, Gautam Gambhir, who is the front-runner to become the next India head coach, might take over the reins starting from the Sri Lanka tour.

The announcement is a mere formality and might happen in the next few days. Gambhir will also get a chance to pick his support staff comprising a batting, bowling, and fielding coach.

"There is a possibility that Laxman along with some of the NCA coaches will travel with the new look squad to Zimbabwe. Laxman and the NCA team has always filled up whenever Rahul Dravid and the first team coaches have been taking periodic breaks during their stint," a BCCI source told PTI.

The report further stated that Riyan Parag, Abhishek Sharma, and all-rounder Nitish Reddy are in line for maiden India call-ups and one of Yash Dayal or Harshit Rana will also be picked in the India squad. The squad will feature 6-7 members of the T20 World Cup squad.

Also if Hardik Pandya doesn’t ask for rest after the T20 World Cup, he’ll captain the India team in Zimbabwe, or else, Suryakumar Yadav will lead the side.