According to recent reports, VVS Laxman, the former Indian cricketer, is poised to extend his role as the head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. His current three-year term is set to conclude in September 2024.

Although Laxman was considered for the head coach position at an IPL franchise, his decision to extend his term at the NCA by at least another year will prevent him from taking on that role.

Laxman is expected to continue working with his coaching team, which includes notable figures such as Sitanshu Kotak, Sairaj Bahutule, and Hrishikesh Kanitkar, all of whom are prominent in Indian domestic cricket.

This contract extension comes just as a new state-of-the-art NCA campus on the outskirts of Bengaluru is nearing completion. The foundation for this facility was laid in January 2022, following a 14-year wait since the Karnataka government approved the land for a 99-year lease.

The new NCA campus is anticipated to feature at least 100 pitches, indoor facilities with 45 pitches, three international-standard grounds, an advanced rehabilitation center, accommodation, and Olympic-sized swimming pools. It is expected to be fully operational by early next year.

One of Laxman’s upcoming tasks will be to build on Rahul Dravid’s extensive India A tour program, which has been challenging to maintain due to a busy international calendar.

During his initial term at the NCA, Laxman enhanced injury management, player rehabilitation, coaching programs, and strategic planning for senior teams, age groups, and women’s cricket.

Given his distinguished playing career, with 8,781 runs in 134 Tests and 2,338 runs in 86 ODIs, Laxman is well-suited to mentor emerging talent.

The extension of his tenure underscores the BCCI’s trust in his leadership and vision for the NCA.