Gautam Gambhir/sbkinews.in
BCCI vice‑president Rajeev Shukla has categorically denied that the board is planning to remove Gautam Gambhir or appoint a new head coach for India in the Test format, calling the speculation “factually incorrect and baseless.” His comments come amid a storm of reports suggesting that former India great VVS Laxman had been sounded out for a possible red‑ball role after India’s recent Test slump.
What Rajeev Shukla Actually Said
Speaking to ANI, Shukla addressed the rumours head‑on and aligned himself with BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia’s earlier denial.
“I want to make it very clear regarding the speculation circulating in the media about head coach Gautam Gambhir. The BCCI secretary has also made it very clear that there is no plan to remove Gambhir or bring in a new head coach for India,” Shukla said.
He added that talk of a coaching shake‑up was “totally speculative” and urged media houses not to encourage such rumours.
Saikia had earlier called the reports “somebody’s figment of imagination,” stressing that the board had “not taken any steps” to alter the leadership group in the longest format. Together, the two top officials have tried to draw a clear line under the chatter about Gambhir’s possible removal.
Why The Speculation Started
The noise around Gambhir’s position escalated after India’s red‑ball form dipped sharply over the past two seasons.
Under Gambhir, appointed all‑format head coach in July 2024, India have won 7, lost 10 and drawn 2 of 19 Tests.
That run includes a 0–3 home whitewash to New Zealand in 2024–25 which cost India a place in the 2025 World Test Championship final, and a 0–2 whitewash at home to South Africa in 2025–26 that may further damage their prospects for the next WTC cycle.
On the back of those defeats, multiple reports claimed that the BCCI had informally approached VVS Laxman to take over as Test or red‑ball coach while Gambhir continued in white‑ball formats. Some pieces even framed it as the start of a shift to split coaching for different formats.
Shukla’s latest statement is specifically aimed at this narrative: he insists there is “no question right now of removing, changing, or bringing in any other coach.”
Gambhir’s Contract And BCCI’s Position
Gambhir’s contract runs until the end of the 2027 ODI World Cup, which makes any mid‑cycle change a significant call both financially and structurally.
The BCCI has publicly backed him despite the Test setbacks, pointing to the need for stability and long‑term planning.
Officials have also highlighted India’s strong white‑ball run under Gambhir, including the 2025 Asia Cup (T20Is) and Champions Trophy (ODIs), even as red‑ball results have lagged.
By doubling down on their support, Shukla and Saikia are signalling that the board does not want to be seen as reacting impulsively to short‑term failures, especially while World Test Championship and World Cup cycles are still in progress.
What This Means Going Forward
For now, three key takeaways emerge from Shukla’s comments:
No imminent change: There is, officially, no move in motion to sack Gambhir or appoint a separate Test coach like Laxman.
Status quo on split roles: Speculation about immediate split‑coaching (Gambhir for white‑ball, a new face for Tests) has been firmly pushed back by the board.
Performance still under scrutiny: Even as BCCI publicly backs Gambhir, his Test record remains under the microscope with WTC qualification and upcoming marquee series to come.
In effect, the board has bought Gambhir time and attempted to cool the narrative of a dressing‑room crisis or an imminent coup, while leaving itself room for “course correction” in the medium term if results do not improve.
