NEW DELHI : Former India batter VVS Laxman is reportedly in line for a major new role of ‘Director of Cricket’ within the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). It would mark a promotion for Laxman, who’s currently the head of the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, and will give him greater control of the team’s operations.
In Bengaluru, Laxman oversees player development, high-performance programmes and injury management. According to India Today, this new role would potentially place him at the centre of India’s wider cricketing operations.3
The timing is significant, with Ajit Agarkar’s tenure as chairman of the senior selection committee scheduled to end in September. Reports have previously linked Laxman with replacing Agarkar, though he’s said to be not interested in the job profile. A change in the selection committee, just one year before the 2027 World Cup, might also not make much sense for the board.
What would this role mean for Laxman and Indian cricket?
A Director of Cricket role is not common in Indian cricket, though ubiquitous in T20 franchises and other international teams. Ravi Shastri used to have a ‘team director’ role before he became the head coach. The position was created by the BCCI as a supreme leadership role to overhaul the squad’s strategy and mindset after a disastrous Test series loss in England
Laxman’s role could involve coordinating between the senior team, selectors, coaches, the Centre of Excellence and India’s broader player pathway. It could also give Laxman greater influence over talent identification, player development and high-performance planning.
Laxman has already remained closely connected with the national team. He has stepped in as interim coach on several occasions and most recently guided a young India side to a 3-0 T20I series victory in Zimbabwe while Gautam Gambhir and his regular coaching staff were rested following the England tour.
Laxman took charge of the revamped Centre of Excellence in 2024 after deciding against succeeding Rahul Dravid as India’s head coach. Since then, he has played a key role in developing India’s player pathway and has also been involved in discussions around injury management and the BCCI’s high-performance structure.
If the appointment goes through, Laxman’s role would expand from running one of Indian cricket’s key development centres to coordinating several major departments across the national setup, potentially giving him a much broader influence ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
