VVS Laxman, the National Cricket Academy (NCA) boss, will be India’s acting head coach on the New Zealand tour as the Rahul Dravid-led coaching staff has been given a break.

India are slated to play six white-ball games in New Zealand from November 18 in Wellington. Three T20Is will follow as many ODIs in the upcoming series.

While captain Rohit Sharma and senior players Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and Ravichandran Ashwin have been rested, the entire coaching staff has also been given a break after the team’s exit from the T20 World Cup.

India were knocked out of the T20 World Cup on Thursday, losing the semi-final to England by 10 wickets.

This will not be the first time Laxman will be in charge of the Indian team. The former cricketer earlier coached India during the tours of Zimbabwe and Ireland and the recent ODI home series against South Africa. He was also in charge of the India Under-19 side that won the ODI World Cup in February.

NCA coaches Hrishikesh Kanitkar (batting) and Sairaj Bahutule (bowling) will join Laxman in New Zealand. They have also previously assisted Laxman.

All-rounder Hardik Pandya will lead the side in the T20Is in New Zealand, while veteran opener Shikhar Dhawan will captain the ODI side.

Rohit will be back as captain in Bangladesh. Kohli and Ashwin will also return to the squad for the Bangladesh tour where India will play three ODIs and two Tests, beginning December 4.

The members who are not part of the New Zealand leg have already started leaving Australia.