Lakshmipathy Balaji Named India A Head Coach

According to a PTI report, former India pacer Lakshmipathy Balaji has been named head coach of the India A team for the upcoming multi-format series against Australia A. The series will be played in Puducherry from September 22 to October 11 and will feature two unofficial Tests and three one-day matches. This will be Balaji’s first assignment as head coach of an India representative side.

Balaji has previously worked as bowling coach of Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings. He represented India between 2002 and 2012, playing eight Tests, 30 ODIs and five T20Is. In the upcoming series, Devdutt Padikkal will captain the multi-day side, while Ruturaj Gaikwad will lead the ODI team. The squads also include players such as Sai Sudharsan, Anshul Kamboj, Tanush Kotian, Priyansh Arya, Rajat Patidar and Hardik Pandya.