Mohammad Kaif praises VVS Laxman’s traditional team combination in Zimbabwe

VVS Laxman, the Centre of Excellence chief, led India’s white-ball coaching staff during the team’s tour of Zimbabwe in July 2026. The tour comprised a three-match T20I series held in Harare on July 23, 25 and 27. Laxman’s approach to squad composition and team selection drew attention from cricket observers and former players.

Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif offered his assessment of Laxman’s work during the Zimbabwe assignment. He highlighted the strategic choices made in building the playing XI for the overseas tour.

“What VVS Laxman did brilliantly in Zimbabwe was backing a traditional combination: seven proper batsmen and four proper bowlers. He didn’t overly rely on finding an all-rounder for the number eight spot just for the sake of it. He backed his playing XI clearly. When a new coach comes in, winning the easy matches is expected, but the pressure builds during these tough overseas tours,” Kaif said as quoted by NDTV Sports.

Laxman’s squad structure in Zimbabwe

Kaif’s remarks centred on Laxman’s decision to maintain a conventional squad structure rather than forcing additional all-rounders into the middle order. The approach reflected a clear strategic preference for specialist roles, with the batting unit and bowling unit kept distinct and purposeful. Kaif noted that overseas tours present particular challenges for new coaching appointments, where early success in simpler matches can mask the difficulty of performing under pressure in unfamiliar conditions.

Kaif’s assessment of India’s white-ball leadership

Kaif also offered broader perspective on India’s white-ball leadership structure. He expressed a preference for focusing on the captain’s role and long-term vision rather than solely evaluating coaching performance. Shubman Gill captained India’s white-ball team during this period, and Kaif assessed his potential as a leader.

“I want to focus less on the coaches and more on the captain. The coach will guide the team, but a captain’s tenure can last 10-12 years. I want to see how Shubman Gill motivates his players and handles the team when the chips are down. He showed great leadership qualities by building and leading his IPL team, the Gujarat Titans. He is young, but he has the potential to be a long-term leader for India,” Kaif said.

Laxman had previously worked with India’s white-ball setup during the 2024 Zimbabwe tour, when Gill captained the team. That assignment saw Abhishek Sharma make his debut for India. The 2024 tour demonstrated Laxman’s experience in handling white-ball cricket in challenging overseas environments.