BCCI not planning Director of Cricket role: Devajit Saikia ends VVS Laxman speculation

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said after Thursday's board meeting that there is no plan to appoint a Director of Cricket. The clarification ends speculation around VVS Laxman taking up a bigger role within Indian cricket.Laxman was linked with taking up the DoC role (Courtesy: PTI)BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has put an end to speculation to the buzz that VVS Laxman will be appointed as the Director Of Cricket as part of a reshuffle in Indian cricket. Speaking after the BCCI meeting on Thursday, September 3, Saikia said that the board has no plans to make an appointment with regards to the role in the future.It was reported by India Today in August that Laxman could be in line for an expanded role within the BCCI as the board weighs changes to its cricketing structure in September. Laxman, who currently heads the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, has emerged as a potential candidate for the proposed Director of Cricket role, according to sources who spoke to India Today.The possibility comes at a time when the BCCI is preparing for changes across key areas of Indian cricket.If Laxman was handed the Director of Cricket role, it would mark a substantial increase in his responsibilities. At the Centre of Excellence, he has been involved in overseeing player development and India's high-performance programmes. The role, if it was created, could have put Laxman at the heart of India’s cricketing operations, and probably linking the senior team, selectors, coaches and Centre of Excellence while overseeing talent identification, player development and high-performance planning.Saikia also addressed the rumours surrounding Rohit Sharma's future and shut out the noise about the former India captain's retirement. LAXMAN TO COACH INDIA DURING ASIAN GAMES Laxman continues to play a key role within India's cricket operations and will be seen in Japan during the Asian Games, where he will step into the role of head coach for the men's team. The decision was confirmed on Thursday as the sports ministry released its list of coaches and support staff for the upcoming games. With Gautam Gambhir staying in India for the West Indies ODI series, VVS Laxman will lead the coaching setup for India at the Asian Games. The three-match series begins on September 27.Former India players Sunil Joshi, Hrishikesh Kanitkar and Subhadeep Ghosh will join Laxman in the support staff, while Maroof Fajandar will serve as the team leader.- EndsPublished On: Sep 3, 2026 17:50 IST