VVS Laxman likely to take over as BCCI Director of Cricket as board plans major reshuffle: Report

VVS Laxman could be in line for a significant new role within the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), with the former India batter reportedly being considered for the position of Director of Cricket.

According to a report by India Today, BCCI is considering appointing Laxman as Director of Cricket as part of a possible restructuring of its cricket operations.

The report said the proposed role would expand Laxman's existing responsibilities as head of the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.

No confirmation yet from BCCI

There has been no official confirmation from the BCCI regarding Laxman's appointment or the precise responsibilities attached to the proposed position. This development was reported amid the news of a possible reshuffle within the board in September.

Laxman is currently the head of the CoE, formerly known as the National Cricket Academy (NCA). He succeeded Rahul Dravid after the former Karnataka batter took over as India's head coach in 2021.

Over the last few years, the CoE has evolved into a broader facility responsible for areas such as player development, high-performance programmes and rehabilitation. Laxman's current tenure at the CoE was extended through 2026.

Earlier this month, Laxman said he had declined the opportunity to become India's head coach after Dravid's tenure because of personal reasons and his commitment to developing the CoE. He said he was committed to establishing the facility's structure, processes and protocols before moving on.

"Because (former BCCI secretary) Jay (Shah) and the BCCI gave me the freedom to execute my vision, and Devajit (Saikia, current BCCI secretary) continues to give me, I've extended (stint at 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," the 51-year-old told reporters at the CoE in Bengaluru.

"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, you know, before I move on, after the two years' stay. 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 added.

According to the India Today report, Laxman's role could include coordinating among the senior national team, selectors, coaching staff and the player-development system. However, the exact structure of such a position has not been announced by the BCCI.

The former Hyderabad player was recently the interim head coach of the Indian cricket team that toured Zimbabwe for a three-match T20I series. The Men in Blue won that series 3-0, which was Shreyas Iyer's first series win as India T20I captain.