New Delhi: Even as the Indian cricket team gears up for its high-stakes Test series against England, an unexpected figure has been spotted around the squad—VVS Laxman. The former Indian cricketer, who is currently the head of the BCCI’s National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, is reportedly in England, raising eyebrows over his presence with the team despite not having any formal role.
This development comes amid head coach Gautam Gambhir’s temporary departure from the squad. According to reports, Gambhir had to urgently return to India owing to a family emergency. His mother reportedly suffered a heart attack and is currently in the ICU at a hospital in New Delhi. This isn’t the first time Gambhir has had to leave a tour midway—he had previously flown home from Australia during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to a similar family situation.
In Gambhir’s absence, Laxman was seen interacting with players and possibly attending the India vs India A intra-squad match that kicked off on Friday. However, BCCI sources were quick to clarify that Laxman has not been given any official responsibility related to the team’s ongoing tour.
“He has gone there for some other purpose, not on any assignment with the Indian team. He travelled to London from Lausanne,” a BCCI source told Cricbuzz, dismissing speculation about his involvement in any coaching or selection decisions. Another insider added, “The target is to win in England, and he may have spoken to the coaches and selectors present here, and perhaps even attended the intra-squad game. But he holds no official role with this team.”
In fact, one source suggested that Laxman’s visit was pre-planned and not linked to Gambhir’s emergency absence. “He went to Switzerland and simply stopped by in London to spend time with the boys. It was always part of his plan,” said the source.
Meanwhile, Gautam Gambhir is expected to rejoin the team in England before the first Test begins in Leeds on June 20. “His mother is showing signs of recovery although she is still in the ICU. In all likelihood, he will be back in the UK before the start of the opening Test if all goes well,” reported PTI, quoting a source familiar with the matter.
Despite the coaching vacuum in the interim, the team’s preparation for the England series continues in full swing, with players participating in warm-up matches and practice sessions.
India’s Test Squad for England Series:
Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.
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