VVS Laxman Was Set To Be India Coach Before Gautam Gambhir, Reveals Why He Said No

VVS Laxman confirms Jay Shah approached him for India’s head coach role in 2023, before Gautam Gambhir, but he declined. Here’s why.

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VVS Laxman has confirmed that former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary and now ICC chairman Jay Shah approached him to become the men’s national head coach in 2023. The India batting legend said he was ‘supposed’ to take up the job but couldn’t because of ‘personal reasons’.

Although he didn’t tell the exact timeline, this likely happened after the 2023 World Cup, when head coach Rahul Dravid’s contract was coming to an end. Dravid was said to be in favor of not seeking an extension and needed convincing from some players in the team. Eventually, the BCCI decided to extend the tenure till after the 2024 T20 World Cup, which India won to end an 11-year-long drought of ICC trophies.

“In 2023, I was supposed to become the head coach,” Laxman said on Sunday. “Because of personal reasons, I was not able to take that up. I went and spoke to Jay twice. He understood my reasons. Because of what Jay and the BCCI have given me, the freedom to execute with my vision, it continues with Devajit and other office bearers,” he added.

Laxman said that instead of becoming the head coach, he accepted the role of chairman at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, Dravid’s old position, and committed to giving his best.

“I extended for two years, and I committed to the BCCI that here I am not taking up the head coach position, but I will make sure that I establish the CoE, I establish the structure, the processes and the protocols, before I move on,” he added.

Dravid quit on a high after the 2024 T20 World Cup, and Laxman’s name again cropped up in the headlines. But Shah was then seen speaking to Gautam Gambhir after Kolkata Knight Riders won the IPL with him as the mentor. Gambhir has since won the 2025 Champions Trophy and the 2026 T20 World Cup, and will be eying making it 3/3 with the 2027 World Cup in Africa.

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Original source: https://www.news18.com/cricket/