Laxman probably will extend his tenure as the head of NCA

VVS Laxman is set to extend his tenure as the head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru for at least another year, as reported by *ESPNcricinfo*. Laxman has been leading the NCA since December 2021 under a three-year contract originally slated to conclude in September 2024. Despite interest from an Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, he has opted to stay on to further contribute to the development of Indian cricket.

As he continues in this role, Laxman will work alongside a skilled coaching team, including notable figures such as Shitanshu Kotak, Sairaj Bahutule, and Hrishikesh Kanitkar. This extension comes at a pivotal time, as the NCA prepares to inaugurate a new state-of-the-art facility in Bengaluru, a project initiated with a foundation stone-laying ceremony in February 2022 by former BCCI President Sourav Ganguly, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, and Laxman himself.

The NCA has played a crucial role in nurturing and rehabilitating India's emerging cricket talents since its inception in 2000. Laxman intends to build on the foundation laid by his predecessor, Rahul Dravid, with a focus on talent development and effective player rehabilitation.

A significant challenge awaiting Laxman is the revitalisation of the India A tour program, which has seen diminished activity in recent years. Previously under Dravid's leadership, the program facilitated regular home and away tours, offering valuable experience to young cricketers.

Laxman, a former Indian cricketer, had a distinguished career, participating in 134 Test matches and amassing 8,781 runs at an impressive average of 45.97, which includes 17 centuries and 56 half-centuries. He is particularly noted for his memorable innings of 281 runs against Australia. In One Day Internationals (ODIs), he played 86 matches, scoring 2,338 runs with an average of 30.76, including six centuries and ten half-centuries.