The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia recently met with VVS Laxman, the head of BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE), to discuss the future roadmap for the center. The meeting took place at the BCCI headquarters and was attended by other officials, including President Mithun Manhas and Vice-President Rajeev Shukla.
In a Facebook post, BCCI secretary Saikia stated, “Had a fruitful meeting with VVS Laxman, Head of BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, in the presence of BCCI office-bearers today at Mumbai. Reviewed current activities and charted the roadmap for the Centre’s future course, aimed at further strengthening India’s cricketing talent pipeline.”
Saikia also addressed rumors regarding Laxman potentially replacing Gautam Gambhir as head coach of Team India following disappointing performances in red-ball cricket.
Laxman has been leading the CoE since 2021, succeeding former Indian head coach Rahul Dravid. The BCCI has poured significant resources into nurturing the Under-19 squad, with a renewed emphasis on player development at the CoE, focusing on emerging talents like Ayush Mhatre among other U19 cricketers.
About a year ago, the BCCI announced plans to expand the Centre of Excellence to provide young cricketers with a world-class facility, ensuring they have all the tools necessary to succeed.
The recent disappointing loss of the Under-19 India team in the final of the Under-19 Asia Cup has raised concerns regarding the CoE’s effectiveness. Reports have also surfaced about BCCI officials being dissatisfied with Gautam Gambhir due to the team’s recent struggles, and there was speculation about Laxman stepping in as head coach. However, some sources indicated that Laxman was hesitant to leave his current role as CoE chief, given the additional travel responsibilities involved.