Published on: Aug 14, 2026 2:03 pm IST|Updated on: Aug 14, 2026 2:03 pm IST
Former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman is in talks to become the next Director of Cricket of the BCCI. Currently serving as the head of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, Laxman could take charge as Director in September 2026.
Currently, Laxman oversees player rehabilitation, high-performance programs, and grassroots talent pathways at the state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence. Elevating him to Director of Cricket would connect several distinct arms of Indian cricket administration into one cohesive structure.
In the expanded capacity as the Director of Cricket, Laxman would be responsible for coordinating operations between the senior men’s and women’s national teams, the senior selection committee, the coaching staff, and the talent development pipelines. The role would focus on long-term strategy for the welfare of Indian cricket, managing the workload of players, talent identification, and seamless transition of the next gen of players moving to the international stage.
Prior to the reports of VVS being considered for the Director of Cricket role within the BCCI, there were rumors that he could be in line to take over the chairman of the Senior Men’s Selection Committee role currently headed by Ajit Agarkar.
With Agarkar’s tenure nearing its end in September 2026, discussions intensified over whether the BCCI would extend his contract through to the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup or usher in a new administrative face. During these selection deliberations, media reports highlighted why Laxman’s name was heavily linked to the top selection post:
“BCCI officials reportedly believe Laxman’s views would command greater respect from senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.”
While the board has now decided to give Laxman another major role to oversee all high-performance operations, the future of the selection committee chairmanship remains a central topic for the BCCI’s upcoming September meeting.
At 51 years old, Laxman has built an outstanding administrative and coaching resume since retiring from international cricket. After choosing to continue at the CoE rather than apply for the head coach position following Rahul Dravid’s exit, he played a pivotal role in modernizing India’s player-development setup.
Furthermore, Laxman has repeatedly stepped up as an interim head coach for the senior national team whenever primary support staff were rested. Most recently, he successfully coached a young Indian squad to a convincing 3–0 T20I series victory in Zimbabwe. His ability to guide young talent while managing high-pressure situations makes him a natural fit for an overarching leadership role.
The timing of this administrative restructuring is particularly crucial. With major ICC tournaments on the horizon—including the 2027 ODI World Cup—the BCCI is aiming to establish structural continuity across all formats.
Appointing a respected figure like Laxman to oversee player development, workload planning, and departmental coordination ensures that Indian cricket remains well-prepared for long-term success. Official confirmation regarding the role and its final framework is expected following the BCCI’s administrative review in September.