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New Delhi. BCCI Center of Excellence (CoE) chief and former cricketer VVS Laxman will lead the Indian men's cricket team at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has confirmed this with the announcement of the Indian team.

The 768-member Indian contingent announced by the ministry includes 503 athletes, 246 team officials and support staff and 19 staff team members. Regular head coach Gautam Gambhir has been rested ahead of the white-ball series against West Indies. In such a situation, the responsibility of looking after the men's cricket team in the Asian Games has been entrusted to Laxman.

These three coaches will join Laxman

According to the release of the Sports Ministry, Sunil Joshi, Hrishikesh Kanitkar and Subhadeep Ghosh will work with VVS Laxman. At the same time, Amol Majumdar will play the role of head coach of the Indian women's cricket team in the Asian Games.

Laxman has already taken the interim responsibility of the Indian team. He most recently supervised the team during the T20 series against Zimbabwe in July. At that time, Gautam Gambhir was rested after the white-ball series against England.

Both Indian teams will enter as current champions.

The Indian men's and women's cricket teams will enter the Asian Games as defending champions. Both teams had won gold medals at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2022.

In the men's category, the predominantly second-ranked Indian team led by Rituraj Gaikwad had won the gold medal. Whereas, in the women's category, 'Women in Blue' won the gold medal under the captaincy of Harmanpreet Kaur.

Now in Aichi-Nagoya, both the teams will defend their title and try to maintain India's strong claim in cricket.

Discussion regarding stay of teams in Asian Games also

Meanwhile, the accommodation arrangements for cricket teams in the upcoming Asian Games is also under discussion. According to Japan Cricket Association (JCA) CEO Naoki Alex Miyaji, hotel accommodation arrangements are being made for the teams participating in the cricket competition.

He said that limited availability of hotel rooms in the host region remains a challenge. Despite this, accommodation arrangements for the teams participating in the cricket competition are being made in hotels.

Cricket match will be held 40 minutes away from Nagoya

Cricket is not a very popular sport in Japan right now. The cricket matches of the upcoming Asian Games will be played at 'Korogi Sports Park'. It is a newly constructed ground and is located about 40 minutes by train from central Nagoya.

Hosting cricket in the Asian Games will also be an opportunity for Japan to take the game to new audiences, while it will be a challenge for the Indian teams to retain the gold medal.