Rahul Dravid, the head coach of India, is not expected to accompany the rest of the team to the UAE for the Asia Cup 2022 because he reportedly tested positive for COVID-19.
On Tuesday, the cricketers who are now in India are most likely to fly to Dubai without Dravid. The former India captain and other support staff members, Paras Mhambrey (bowling coach) and Vikram Rahtour (batting coach), were given a break from the ODI series against Zimbabwe as former teammate VVS Laxman took over as interim coach for the three-match ODI series, which India won 3-0. The Asia Cup is set to start on August 27, but India’s campaign gets underway against Pakistan the following day in Dubai.
However, it is not yet certain whether Laxman will fill in for Dravid once more.
The reigning champions are grouped with a qualifier, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka in Group B, while Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka make up Group A.
India has chosen to play a full-strength squad, which many believe is pretty similar to what their squad for the T20 World Cup in Australia in a few months’ time could look like, except Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel, both of whom are out due to injury.
Virat Kohli, who is making a comeback following the England ODIs, will be the centre of attention. The West Indies and Zimbabwe tours were postponed to give the former captain, who hasn’t been playing well lately, a vacation.