He’s leading them at the Asian Games 2026 in Japan. Why’s this surprising? Because Gautam Gambhir, the current head coach, is busy with the senior team’s ODI series against West Indies. So, the BCCI is splitting its coaching leadership; Laxman for the multi-sport event, Gambhir for the international calendar. It’s not a small deal. India won gold in 2023 under Laxman, and now he’s bringing back Sunil Joshi, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, and Subhadeep Ghosh. The men’s team starts on September 28; just days after the first ODI. Meanwhile, Amol Muzumdar continues leading the women’s side, fresh off their gold in 2023 too. This split signals something bigger: the BCCI is treating the Asian Games seriously; not as a side event, but as a competitive platform. And they’re sending strong teams, not B-squads. The men face either Afghanistan, Japan, or Nepal; the women open against Japan in the quarters. If India wins again, it’ll be a statement; that even with divided coaching staff, the depth of Indian cricket can deliver on global stages.