Speculation around India’s Test coaching setup resurfaced nearly a month after the team’s 0-2 whitewash in South Africa, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has now firmly dismissed claims that former India batter VVS Laxman was approached to replace Gautam Gambhir in the red-ball role.
The denial follows a PTI report which suggested that the board had “informally approached” Laxman amid concerns over India’s recent Test performances. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia on Sunday (December 28) termed the report “baseless” and reiterated that the board continues to back Gambhir.
BCCI rubbishes speculation, calls report ‘factually incorrect’
Speaking to ANI, Saikia rejected any suggestion of a leadership change in India’s Test setup, stressing that the board had not initiated any process to replace Gambhir.
“This is totally incorrect news going on. This is totally speculative news… There is no truth to it. BCCI straight away denies,” Saikia said, adding that the report was a “figment of imagination”.
The clarification comes after India suffered their second overseas whitewash in 12 months, raising questions around the team’s red-ball direction. Despite the setback, the BCCI’s stance suggests continuity rather than knee-jerk change at this stage of the cycle.
Laxman’s past role, Gambhir’s contract and the road ahead
VVS Laxman, currently Head of Cricket at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, has long been viewed as a potential head coach. When Rahul Dravid’s tenure ended last year, Laxman was among those sounded out before Gambhir emerged as the leading candidate. As reported earlier by PTI, Laxman declined at the time, preferring to continue in his developmental role.
Gambhir, whose contract runs until the end of the 2027 ODI World Cup, has pointed to his success in white-ball cricket amid scrutiny over Test results. Under his tenure, India won the Champions Trophy and lifted the men’s T20 Asia Cup, achievements that continue to weigh in his favour.
However, concerns remain in the longer format. India are currently sixth in the World Test Championship 2025-27 standings with nine matches left. A PTI report noted that while the board is uneasy about red-ball results, it is expected to adopt its customary wait-and-watch approach.
With the T20 World Cup looming, followed by a lengthy IPL window, the BCCI will have time to assess whether to persist with a single head coach across formats or explore split coaching, depending on India’s performance at the global event.
