Speculation around Gautam Gambhir’s future as India head coach has intensified following the team’s dismal Test performances in 2025, but senior BCCI officials have firmly denied reports that VVS Laxman was approached to take over the red-ball coaching role. Sources close to NDTV have confirmed that Gambhir will continue in his position until the 2027 ODI World Cup, despite mounting pressure after successive Test series defeats.

BCCI denies VVS Laxman approach

A report by PTI claimed that a BCCI official informally approached VVS Laxman shortly after India’s 2-0 clean sweep defeat to South Africa in December 2025, inquiring whether the former India batting great would be interested in coaching the Test team. The report stated that Laxman, currently serving as Head of Cricket at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, declined the informal approach, preferring to continue in his current role.

However, a senior BCCI official has categorically dismissed those claims.

“We have not spoken to VVS Laxman either officially or unofficially,” the official told NDTV. “The BCCI has complete trust in Gautam Gambhir, and no discussion has been held regarding this matter.”

NDTV sources have further clarified that Gambhir is not going anywhere before the 2027 World Cup, emphasizing that his contract remains secure despite the Test setbacks.

A year of contrasts for Gambhir and Team India

The year 2025 has been a tale of two formats for India under Gautam Gambhir’s coaching. While the team enjoyed white-ball success by winning the Asia Cup (T20Is) and the Champions Trophy (ODIs), their Test performances have been disastrous.

India suffered back-to-back humiliating series defeats:

  • 3-0 home whitewash to New Zealand (October-November 2024)

  • 3-1 defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia (December 2024-January 2025)

  • 2-0 clean sweep loss to South Africa at home (December 2025)

These results have raised serious doubts about Gambhir’s ability to manage the Test side, especially given India’s struggles on home soil against New Zealand and South Africa—both series that were expected to be comfortable victories.

Contract runs until 2027, but performance under scrutiny

Gambhir’s contract with the BCCI runs until the end of the 2027 ODI World Cup, giving him significant job security on paper. However, the PTI report suggests that the contract could be “revisited” depending on India’s performance in the upcoming T20 World Cup, which begins in five weeks.

The report also noted that within BCCI corridors, “the jury is still out” on whether Gambhir is the right person to lead the red-ball team through the remaining nine Tests of the World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle.

India’s upcoming Test commitments include:

  • Two-Test series in Sri Lanka (August 2026)

  • Two-Test series in New Zealand (October 2026)

  • Five-Test series at home against Australia (January-February 2027)

After a 2-2 draw in the five-Test away series in England earlier in 2025, India’s chances of reaching the WTC final now depend heavily on winning these upcoming series convincingly.

Uncertainty remains despite BCCI backing

While BCCI officials have publicly backed Gambhir, Indian cricket is no stranger to sudden changes in leadership. As the report points out, no one predicted that vice-captain Shubman Gill would be dropped from the World Cup squad just before the T20 World Cup.

If India’s struggles in Test cricket continue—or if the team underperforms in the upcoming T20 World Cup—the pressure on Gambhir could become untenable, regardless of his contract status.

For now, Gautam Gambhir remains India’s head coach across all formats, but the speculation around VVS Laxman and the scrutiny on his Test results suggest that the coming months will be critical for his long-term future.