Laxman was being pursued by an IPL franchise for a head coach position, but his NCA responsibilities have taken precedence. He will be supported by a team of experienced coaches including Shitanshu Kotak, Sairaj Bahutule, and Hrishikesh Kanitkar, all well-known figures in Indian domestic cricket.
The extension of Laxman’s contract coincides with the upcoming opening of a new state-of-the-art NCA campus on the outskirts of Bengaluru. The campus, which has been in the works since January 2022, is expected to be fully operational early next year with top-notch facilities including multiple pitches, indoor training areas, international-sized grounds, a rehab center, lodging, and pools.
During his initial tenure at the NCA, Laxman continued the work started by his predecessor Rahul Dravid in areas such as injury management, player rehabilitation, coaching programs, and team development for senior, youth, and women’s cricket teams.
One of Laxman’s main tasks will be to reinvigorate the India A tour program, which has experienced interruptions in recent years. He aims to bring back the consistency in tours that was maintained during Dravid’s tenure.
