A new report has made a significant revelation about the future of Gautam Gambhir as the all-format head coach of the India National Cricket Team.
The report claimed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reached out to the legendary batter, VVS Laxman, for the Test head coach job after India’s series loss to South Africa.
Gautam Gambhir struggling as India head coach in Tests
Since becoming the all-format head coach, Gautam Gambhir has steered Team India to the ICC Champion Trophy 2025 and the Asia Cup 2025 triumphs in a quick span of time.
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India have shown sheer dominance in T20I cricket and instilled fear in the minds of the opposition teams, and in ODIs, they have delivered good performance under Gambhir.
However, when it comes to Test cricket, things have been quite doom and gloom. In the purest format of the game, Gautam Gambhir’s India have struggled badly, and a lot of questions have been raised over the head coach’s tactics.
Gambhir has been under fire for relying more on the all-rounders in a format that demands specialists to get the job done. Also, the head coach has tried to implement a T20I-style formula in Test cricket, which hasn’t worked, and India have been at the receiving end of shocking Test series losses.
Gautam Gambhir oversaw 2 home Test series whitewashes
In his first Test series as head coach at home, Gambhir guided India to a 2-0 triumph over Bangladesh. However, what came next was horrendous as the Indians were whitewashed by the Kiwis at home. It was the first-ever 0-3 clean sweep that India suffered at home in cricket history.
Following that, India lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 1-3. The new cycle of the ICC World Test Championship started with the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England, and a young Indian team drew the series 2-2.
Things started looking good from thereon as India also whitewashed West Indies at home 2-0, but the hosts suffered yet another setback when the Temba Bavuma-led South Africa humbled India with a dominant 2-0 clean sweep.
BCCI looked at VVS Laxman as Gautam Gambhir’s replacement
Now, a report in PTI has revealed that someone who matters in the BCCI had once again informally approached VVS Laxman to check if he would be interested in becoming the Test head coach after India’s loss to South Africa.
VVS Laxman, who was initially seen as Rahul Dravid‘s successor as head coach, denied the job and stated that he is happy being the ‘Head of Cricket’ at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
Gautam Gambhir has signed a deal till the 2027 ODI World Cup, but that contract could prematurely end depending upon India’s performance in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, as the jury is still out on whether he is the right person to remain at the helm, especially in Test cricket.
“Gambhir does have a strong backing within the power corridors of Indian cricket, and obviously, if India retain the T20 World Cup or at least reach the final, he would be seamlessly continuing with his assignment. However, it would be interesting if Gambhir continues in Tests too,” a BCCI source told PTI on condition of anonymity.
“His advantage being (that there) aren’t too many alternate options in red ball format since VVS Laxman isn’t interested in coaching the senior Test team,” the source added.
The report also claimed that there is chaos in the Indian dressing room currently, and players aren’t feeling as secure as they did during Rahul Dravid’s tenure.
