Xtra Time Web Desk: Team India’s head coach Rahul Dravid and his support staff will be given a break after the ongoing series against West Indies. Dravid, along with batting coach Vikram Rathour and bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, will return to India in August from the United States, where the last two T20Is of the ongoing series will be played.
The decision to give the coaching staff a rest is aimed at providing them with sufficient time to recover before the Asia Cup, which begins on August 31. This will be followed by a series of assignments, including a three-match ODI series against Australia, culminating with the World Cup ending on November 19.
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VVS Laxman, the head of the NCA, will take charge of the team in Ireland. He is likely to lead the coaching team, accompanied by selected batting and bowling coaches from Sitanshu Kotak, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, Troy Cooley, and Sairaj Bahutule. Laxman had previously served as the coach when India toured Ireland for a couple of T20Is in June last year.
The three T20Is in Ireland are scheduled to be played in Dublin on August 18, 20, and 23. While the squad for the Ireland series has not been finalized yet, it is expected that Hardik Pandya will lead the side. The exact composition of the squad will be confirmed after a discussion between Ajit Agarkar, the new selection committee chairman, Dravid, and captain Rohit Sharma.
The Indian team will fly to Trinidad on Monday for the second Test.