Shikhar Dhawan set to return as India captain; VVS Laxman also likely to make comeback as coach

The BCCI agreed to send both its women's and men's team to the Asian Games in Hangzhou.

Shikhar Dhawan set to return as India captain; VVS Laxman also likely to make comeback as coach

Shikhar Dhawan and VVS Laxman (Image via News9live)

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is ready and willing to send both its men’s and women’s teams to the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, later this year. Shikhar Dhawan is likely to come back as captain and lead the side in the tournament whereas VVS Laxman is also set to return as head coach for that duration.

A final confirmation is still awaited from the BCCI about the roles. India are likely to field a second-string side with major players being picked in the World Cup squad. Dhawan has captained India in 12 ODI matches and holds a 58%-win record. VVS Laxman was a good replacement for Rahul Dravid last year and could prove to come good yet again.

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The Asian Games are scheduled from 23rd September to 8th October 2023. The games will clash with the first three days of the ODI World Cup scheduled to begin on 5th October in India. Cricket is returning to the Asian Games after 9 long years, it was first played in 2010 when Bangladesh were crowned as champions and then in 2014 when Sri Lanka won the gold medal in the men’s category.

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Harmanpreet Kaur and Shikhar Dhawan likely to lead their respective teams

shikhar dhawan harmanpreet kaur asian games
Harmanpreet Kaur, Shikhar Dhawan (Images via HT, Sportspost)

With both the men’s and women’s teams heading to the Asian Games for the first time, fans have high expectations from both sides. While Shikhar Dhawan is likely to captain the men’s side, Harmanpreet Kaur is the skipper choice for the women’s team. The women’s team participated in the 2022 Commonwealth Games at Birmingham where they lost to Australia by 9 runs in the final and returned home with a silver medal.

The Asian games however are not recognised as international cricket under the ICC. This is the first time that India’s men’s cricket team will be participating in a global event of sorts.

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