Bengaluru: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly made an informal approach to former India great VVS Laxman to explore the possibility of him taking up a coaching role with the national Test team, following India’s disappointing performance in the recent home Test series against South Africa. The move has fuelled speculation about the future of Gautam Gambhir’s role in India’s red-ball setup, even as his overall contract as head coach runs until the end of the 2027 ODI World Cup.

According to a report by Press Trust of India (PTI), the informal outreach to Laxman came soon after India’s “abject surrender” in the two-Test series against South Africa last month. Sources indicated that a senior figure within the BCCI hierarchy reached out to Laxman to gauge his interest in coaching the Test side, amid growing concern over India’s struggles in red-ball cricket, particularly against strong opposition.

Gambhir’s mixed coaching record

Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as India’s head coach has been marked by contrasting results across formats. His record in white-ball cricket has been impressive, with India winning one ICC trophy and one Asian Cricket Council (ACC) title during his time in charge. These successes have strengthened his standing within the board and among sections of the cricketing establishment.

However, the same confidence does not extend to Test cricket. Under Gambhir’s leadership, India have reportedly suffered 10 Test defeats against SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia), raising questions about the team’s preparation, selection strategy and overall direction in the longest format of the game. The recent loss to South Africa at home has further intensified scrutiny.

VVS Laxman not keen on Test coaching role

Despite the BCCI’s interest, PTI reported that VVS Laxman is currently content in his role as Head of Cricket at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and is not inclined to take up the senior Test team coaching position. Laxman, widely respected for his technical acumen and calm leadership style, has previously been seen as a potential long-term coaching option for India, especially in red-ball cricket.

Sources suggested that Laxman’s reluctance to move away from his current responsibilities has limited the BCCI’s immediate alternatives, should it consider a change in the Test coaching setup.

Contract may be revisited

Although Gambhir’s contract officially runs until the conclusion of the 2027 ODI World Cup, there is an understanding within the BCCI that coaching arrangements are performance-linked and subject to review. A key factor in determining Gambhir’s continuity could be India’s showing in the upcoming T20 World Cup, which begins in around five weeks.

“It is understood that in the BCCI corridors, the jury is still out on whether Gambhir is the right person to remain at the helm of the red-ball team for the remaining nine Tests of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 cycle,” the PTI report stated.

India’s red-ball calendar remains demanding. After drawing 2-2 in a five-Test away series in England, the team is scheduled to play two Tests in Sri Lanka in August 2026, followed by a tour of New Zealand in October. This will be capped by a high-profile five-Test home series against Australia in January–February 2027, a series likely to play a decisive role in India’s WTC campaign.

Strong backing, but uncertainty remains

Despite the criticism, Gambhir continues to enjoy strong backing within influential sections of the BCCI. A source quoted by PTI said that if India either retain the T20 World Cup title or reach the final, Gambhir’s position as head coach would be further solidified across formats.

“Gambhir does have strong backing within the power corridors of Indian cricket. If India do well in the T20 World Cup, he would seamlessly continue with his assignment,” the source said, adding that the bigger question is whether he should continue handling the Test team as well.

The same source pointed out that the lack of alternative options, especially with Laxman not keen on the role, works in Gambhir’s favour for the time being.

Dressing room dynamics under scrutiny

The report also highlighted concerns about the current atmosphere in the Indian dressing room. Compared to the Rahul Dravid era, where roles were clearly defined and players were given extended runs to prove themselves, the Gambhir regime is reportedly seen as more uncertain by some players.

One high-profile decision that drew attention was Shubman Gill’s exclusion from the T20 World Cup squad, a move widely believed to have Gambhir’s backing. The omission has reportedly unsettled several players, with fears that even established names could be dropped without extended opportunities.

Key decisions after T20 World Cup

The BCCI is known for taking a measured approach to major policy decisions. With the T20 World Cup followed closely by two months of the Indian Premier League, the board will have time to assess India’s performance and deliberate on the future coaching structure.

A decision on whether to continue with a single head coach across all formats or introduce a split coaching model is likely to be taken after careful analysis.

Conclusion

The informal approach to VVS Laxman underscores the BCCI’s unease over India’s recent Test performances, even as Gautam Gambhir remains firmly in place for now. With crucial tournaments and tours ahead, the next few months are set to be decisive for Indian cricket’s coaching setup, making the period ahead particularly significant for what lies next for the national team.