Essential that we build a solid bench when it comes to coaches and other support personnel: VVS Laxman

With
the
T20
World
Cup
around
the
corner
and
a
strong
squad
to
fall
back
on
in
case
of
injuries,
coach
Rahul
Dravid
has
one
of
the
strongest
teams.
But
National
Cricket
Academy
chief
VVS
Laxman,
though
the
country
has
a
enviable
bench
strength,
it
is
equally
important
to
develop
a
vast
pool
of
world-class
coaches
and
other
support
staff
to
take
Indian
cricket
to
the
next
level.

The
former
Indian
batsman
took
over
as
NCA
chief
in
December.
During
BCCI’s
Apex
Council
meeting
on
Thursday,
Laxman
opened
up
about
his
vision
for
Indian
cricket.

“It’s
still
early
days
here
at
the
NCA
but
my
vision,
which
has
found
resonance
with
my
wonderful
team
at
the
academy,
revolves
not
just
around
the
players.
As
much
as
it
is
imperative
to
build
a
strong
bench
that
the
various
national
teams
can
draw
from
as
required,
it
is
essential
that
we
build
a
solid
bench
when
it
comes
to
coaches
and
other
support
personnel,”
PTI
quoted
Laxman
as
saying.

Laxman
further
added,
“Given
how
professional
the
game
has
become
and
how
much
cricket
is
being
played
these
days,
there
is
bound
to
be
high
demand
for
top-quality
skills
and
S&C
coaches
as
well
as
physiotherapists
and
science
medicine
experts.

“It’s
our
endeavour
that
we
put
together
programs
at
the
NCA
that
help
Indian
talent
to
express
itself
in
this
department
too.”

Laxman
had
travelled
with
the
India
U-19
squad
to
the
Caribbean
soon
after
taking
over
and
more
recently,
he
was
the
coach
of
the
Indian
team
on
the
Ireland
tour
with
Rahul
Dravid,
overseeing
preparations
with
the
Test
squad
in
England.

Furthermore,
the
NCA
chief
stated
that
the
focus
will
be
to
improve
the
communication
with
state
associations.
“The
other
major
endeavour
is
to
enhance
communication
with
state
associations
so
that
there
is
synergy
in
skills
training,
strength
and
conditioning
and
injury
prevention/management
between
the
NCA
and
the
respective
state
units.

“At
the
end
of
the
day,
all
of
us
are
committed
to
providing
the
best
environment
for
the
players
to
thrive
in,
and
it
is
therefore
crucial
that
we
are
all
on
the
same
page
on
all
things,”
signed
off
Laxman.

(With
inputs
from
PTI)