India will face South Africa in a four-match T20I series next month, which starts on November 8 in Durban.
Former Indian middle-order batter VVS Laxman will serve as India’s head coach for the four-match T20I series against South Africa in November 2024. According to a report in Cricbuzz on Monday (October 28), Laxman will step up in the absence of Gautam Gambhir, who is set to travel to Australia with the Indian Test team for the five-match series against the Baggy Greens. The decision of Laxman’s appointment for the series was confirmed to Cricbuzz by a senior BCCI official.
Read More: How Can India Qualify For WTC 2025 Final After Losing Back-To-Back Tests Against New Zealand
The Indian men’s cricket team is scheduled to travel to South Africa next month for the shortest format series, which starts on November 8 in Durban. The next three matches are set to take place in Gqeberha, Centurion, and Johannesburg on November 10, 13, and 15, respectively.
As per the available information, Sairaj Bahutule, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, and Subhadeep Ghosh will be part of the coaching staff under Laxman for the shortest format series.
Laxman, who has been part of NCA since 2021, has served as head coach on multiple occasions in the past as well. His first assignment with the Indian team was in June 2022 against Ireland, and the last one was against Zimbabwe in July 2024.
The BCCI announced India’s 15-member squad for the T20I series against South Africa on October 25. Suryakumar Yadav will lead the 2024 T20 World Cup winners, and the squad also features the likes of Hardik Pandya, Sanju Samson, and Rinku Singh, among others.
Read More: Shami’s International Comeback Likely In Gabba Test, Report Confirms Date Of Return
India has won the last two T20I series played under Suryakumar’s leadership with a 3-0 margin, and the right-handed batter will be desperate to complete a hat-trick of series win. India last played South Africa in a T20I series in December 2023 under Surya’s leadership, and that assignment ended on level terms.
In the last match of that T20I series played in Joburg on December 14, Suryakumar Yadav scored a century for India, whereas Kuldeep Yadav picked up a five-wicket haul.
India’s T20I squad: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ramandeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Avesh Khan, Yash Dayal.
