Former India batter VVS Laxman has revealed that he was in line to become the head coach of the Indian men's cricket team in 2023, but turned down the opportunity for personal reasons.
Laxman's name has been linked with the India head coach position on several occasions. He was considered for the role after Rahul Dravid's tenure ended in June 2024, before Gautam Gambhir was eventually appointed.
His name surfaced again following India's second successive Test series whitewash at home under Gambhir, amid criticism of the team's red-ball performances and calls for a split coaching structure.
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Speaking to reporters on Sunday at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, Laxman revealed that he was “supposed” to take over as India head coach in 2023, when Dravid's initial tenure was set to end after the ODI World Cup.
However, Laxman said he declined the opportunity due to personal reasons. Dravid subsequently continued in the role, with his tenure extended until the 2024 T20 World Cup, which India won.
“In 2023, I was supposed to become the head coach. For personal reasons, I was unable to take that up. I went and spoke to Jay (Shah) twice. He understood my reasons,” Laxman noted.
Laxman was also reportedly approached in May 2024, when the BCCI began looking for Dravid's successor. He was among the frontrunners before Gambhir was appointed.
The 51-year-old has since remained involved with the national setup and has served as interim head coach on several occasions, most recently during India's T20I tour of Zimbabwe.
The former India batter has now been linked with another key role in Indian cricket. A recent media report suggested that the BCCI was considering him as a possible replacement for chief selector Ajit Agarkar, amid questions surrounding the selection committee and its handling of Rohit Sharma's future.
The BCCI is yet to decide on Agarkar's future and whether he will continue as chief selector through the 2027 ODI World Cup. Laxman, however, has made his own plans clear: he does not intend to move away from the CoE anytime soon.
Laxman said his decision to extend his stay at the CoE was influenced by the freedom he received from former BCCI secretary Jay Shah, along with the continued support of current secretary Devajit Saikia.
“Because (former BCCI secretary) Jay and the BCCI gave me the freedom to execute my vision, and Devajit (Saikia, current BCCI secretary) continues to give me."
"I've extended (my stint at the CoE) for two years, and I committed to the BCCI that I'm not taking up the head coach position. You all know that I was approached back in 2024,” Laxman was quoted as saying by PTI.
Laxman also outlined what he wants to achieve before his extended stint at the CoE comes to an end.
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“I'll make sure that I establish the CoE, its structure, the processes and the protocols, which I just shared with them - all the SOPs for every department - before I move on, after the two years' stay", he added.
“So, I think I'm very happy that I've been able - also because of the team we have - to establish a very, very world-class programme at the CoE,” he concluded.
For now, then, Laxman appears committed to the project in Bengaluru rather than another return to the India dressing room - or a move into the national selection setup.
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