Xtra Time Web Desk: Team India Head Coach Rahul Dravid along with other support staffs were given a break for the upcoming tour to New Zealand. National Cricket Academy chairman VVS Laxman has been entrusted with the responsibility of coaching the Indian team. Dravid has been rested by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the tour to New Zealand
Bowling coach Paras Mhambrey and batting coach Vikram Rathour will also return to India after the disappointing loss to England in the second semi-final of the T20 World Cup. The entire team of support staff has been on the road for the past couple of months. They will again travel with the Indian team to Bangladesh immediately after the white ball series against BlackCaps . Hrishikesh Kanitkar will be the batting coach while Sairaj Bahutule will be the bowling coach for the tour to New Zealand.
Laxman was the coach of the Indian team during the recent tours to Ireland and Zimbabwe this year, followed by the South Africa home series ahead of the T20 World Cup in October.
India men’s tour of New Zealand will begin from Nov 18 till Nov 30. The limited-over series will consist of three T20Is and an equal number of ODIs. The series will start with the T20 matches with the first T20I scheduled on November 18 at the Sky Stadium in Wellington. The teams will shift bases to Mount Maunganui for the second T20I on November 20 followed by the third and final T20I at McLean Park in Napier on November 22.
The ODI series will begin on Friday, November 25 at Eden Park. The second match will be played on Sunday, 27th November at Seyden Park. The last match of the series and tour will be held on Wednesday, 30th November at Hagley Oval.