No Director of Cricket role for VVS Laxman as BCCI dismisses media reports

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has put speculation about a new administrative role for VVS Laxman firmly to rest. Following a board review meeting on Thursday, September 3, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that the board has no intention of creating a Director of Cricket position within Indian cricket’s administrative structure.

The clarification directly addresses media reports from August that suggested Laxman was being considered for a significantly expanded role as part of a possible September reshuffle. Saikia’s statement after the review meeting makes clear that no such development is on the cards at this stage. Laxman is currently in charge of the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence. That role remains unchanged following the board’s deliberations on September 3.

“Neither discussion nor intention,” Saikia told reporters.

What was the Rumoured Director of Cricket role about?

Reports that surfaced as early as August 14 described the proposed Director of Cricket position as a substantial expansion of Laxman’s existing brief at the Centre of Excellence. Under the structure outlined in those reports, the role would have extended well beyond player development to cover broader coordination across Indian cricket as a whole.

The position was reported to potentially include overseeing the relationship between the senior men’s team, the national selectors, the coaching staff and the player-development pipeline. Had it materialised, this would have placed Laxman in a central administrative position connecting on-field operations with the wider support structure at the highest level of Indian cricket.

With the BCCI now having addressed the matter publicly through Saikia’s confirmation, Laxman’s responsibilities remain confined to the Centre of Excellence. The board’s decision to issue a clear statement after the review meeting signals its intent to correct what it regards as inaccurate reporting.

What is Laxman’s current role in Indian cricket?

While the proposed expanded position has been set aside, Laxman continues to carry meaningful responsibilities within the BCCI structure. He is set to lead India‘s men’s cricket team at the 2026 Asian Games, which are scheduled to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

His appointment to lead the side at the Asian Games reflects the continued trust the BCCI places in him, even as the broader administrative role reported in the media has not come to pass. The Centre of Excellence, which Laxman heads, remains a central part of India’s player-development framework and continues to operate as a key institution within the board’s long-term planning.