Following India's disappointing performance against South Africa in the recent two-Test series at home, reports have emerged suggesting that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) informally approached VVS Laxman for the role of red-ball coach. This approach reportedly occurred immediately after India's series defeat.

Gautam Gambhir's position as the head coach across all formats came under scrutiny after the team's poor performance, especially in Test cricket. India's loss in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in 2024-25, coupled with trailing 1-2 in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England and failure to qualify for the 2025 World Test Championship final, added pressure on Gambhir.

Despite these setbacks, Gambhir remains under contract with the BCCI until the end of the 2027 ODI World Cup. However, there is a possibility that the contract could be revisited depending on India's performance in the T20 World Cup.

VVS Laxman, currently serving as the Head of Cricket at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, is reportedly content in his current role. Laxman has previously coached the Indian team in interim roles whenever the main coaching staff was rested. Despite speculation, there has been no official confirmation from the BCCI or any credible source suggesting that Laxman is set to replace Gambhir as the red-ball coach.

The Indian dressing room is reportedly experiencing some unease under Gambhir's leadership, with players feeling less secure compared to the era under Rahul Dravid, where roles were clearly defined and players were given ample opportunity to prove themselves. The exclusion of Shubman Gill from the T20 World Cup squad has further fueled these sentiments, leading players to believe that their positions may be uncertain.

The BCCI is yet to decide whether Gambhir is the right person to lead the red-ball team for the remaining nine Tests of the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle. India is scheduled to play two-Test series against Sri Lanka in August 2026 and New Zealand in October before hosting Australia for a five-Test series in January-February 2027.

Some reports suggest that the BCCI may consider splitting the coaching roles, with Gambhir continuing as the white-ball coach and Laxman taking charge of the Test team. However, Gambhir had initially bargained for the role of head coach across all formats.