The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has firmly dismissed media reports suggesting that former Indian batting legend VVS Laxman has been approached to replace Gautam Gambhir as the head coach of the men's Test team. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia described the speculation as "totally incorrect," "factually incorrect," and "baseless," emphasizing that no steps have been taken by the board regarding any change in the leadership group for the longest format.
The rumors surfaced just weeks after India suffered a 0-2 home Test series whitewash against South Africa under Gambhir's coaching tenure. This marked India's second consecutive home Test series loss in back-to-back years, following a shocking 0-3 defeat to New Zealand in 2024—the first home Test series loss for India in 12 years. The back-to-back setbacks have raised questions about the team's performance in the Test format under Gambhir, despite his success in limited-overs cricket.
Speaking to ANI, Saikia categorically rejected the reports, stating, "This is totally incorrect news going on. This is totally speculative news. Some very reputable news agencies are also flashing the news. There is no truth to it. BCCI straight away denies. People can think all they want, but BCCI has not taken any steps. This is somebody's figment of imagination; there is no truth in it, and I cannot say anything except that this is factually incorrect and baseless news."
Also Read: India’s Push to Make Shubman Gill Face of Cricket Backfires
Under Gautam Gambhir's coaching, India's Test record has been inconsistent. The team began his tenure strongly with a 2-0 home series win against Bangladesh but suffered heavy setbacks in the 1-3 Border-Gavaskar Trophy loss in Australia, a 2-2 hard-fought draw in England, and the recent 0-2 defeat to South Africa. The Proteas series was particularly disappointing, with India failing to chase a modest 124 in Kolkata and suffering their biggest-ever Test defeat by 408 runs in the second match. Injuries to captain Shubman Gill in both tests further compounded the challenges, with Rishabh Pant stepping in as stand-in captain.
Despite the Test struggles, Gambhir's tenure has been highly successful in limited-overs formats, where India has remained unbeaten, lifting the ICC Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup T20I title. The contrasting fortunes have fueled speculation about potential coaching changes in the red-ball setup, though the BCCI has made it clear that no such discussions have taken place.
With no immediate Test matches on the horizon, India's focus now shifts to defending their T20 World Cup title in February 2026. Under new captain Suryakumar Yadav, the team will compete in a group featuring Pakistan, Namibia, the Netherlands, and the USA, beginning their campaign against the USA on February 7 in Mumbai. The tournament will mark the first T20 World Cup in several years without stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, presenting a fresh challenge for the young squad in front of a home crowd. The BCCI's denial of coaching changes signals continuity in leadership as India prepares for the marquee event.
Also Read: IND vs SA 3rd ODI: After 20 Consecutive Toss Losses, KL Rahul Ends Streak and Brings Cheer to Indian Team