The BCCI is reportedly preparing to introduce a new power structure in Indian cricket, with VVS Laxman likely to take over as Director of Cricket. Reports suggest that the proposed designation would place him above India head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar in the cricketing hierarchy.
Laxman currently heads the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, but the proposed role could significantly expand his influence across Indian cricket.
And this is where things become interesting.
If Gambhir and Agarkar have to report to Laxman and major long-term decisions are coordinated by the Director of Cricket, how much independent power will the head coach and chief selector actually have?
Will they effectively become ‘puppets’ in a system where Laxman has the bigger say?
It is a strong word, but let’s understand how their functioning could change under the proposed system.
1. Gambhir and Agarkar Could Have a New Boss
This could be the biggest change after the appointment of VVS Laxman as Director of Cricket.
Until now, the head coach and chairman of selectors have largely operated in separate areas of authority.
Gautam Gambhir and his coaching staff are responsible for the team’s preparation, tactics and day-to-day management. Ajit Agarkar and his selection committee, on the other hand, are responsible for picking India’s squads.
There is obviously communication between the two, but one does not formally work under the other.
The Director of Cricket model could change that equation.
Reports indicate that Laxman’s new designation would virtually place him above both Gambhir and Agarkar in the hierarchy.
That means there could now be one senior cricketing authority looking at the functioning of both departments.
Why was a certain decision taken? Why is a particular player part of India’s plans? Why is another player being overlooked? Is the coaching staff getting the desired results? Is the selection policy consistent with India’s long-term plans?
These are the types of questions that could come under Laxman’s broader oversight.
This does not mean Gambhir cannot make tactical decisions or Agarkar cannot select a squad. But if the reported hierarchy is implemented, their decisions could face greater accountability than before.
And that could reduce some of their independence.
2. Laxman Could Become the Final Bridge Between Gambhir and Agarkar
There have often been discussions around differences in approach between team management, selectors and other parts of the BCCI system.
Under the proposed structure, Laxman could become the man responsible for making sure these different departments are working in the same direction.
Suppose Gambhir wants a particular player for his team combination, while Agarkar and his selection panel have a different view.
Earlier, this could lead to lengthy discussions between the coach and selectors, with the BCCI administration sometimes becoming involved if the matter escalated.
Now there could be another layer.
Laxman could listen to both sides and help coordinate what is considered the best way forward for Indian cricket.
His position at the CoE makes this even more relevant. Laxman already works within the structure responsible for player development and fitness programmes at the Centre of Excellence.
The Director of Cricket could therefore connect four important areas — the national coaching setup, senior selectors, Centre of Excellence and India’s player-development pathway.
Whenever there is a disagreement over player development, fitness, workload or long-term planning, Laxman could become the central figure.
3. Gambhir Could Lose Some Control Over His Coaching Setup
This is one area where Gambhir’s independence could be affected significantly.
A head coach naturally wants people around him whom he trusts and whose cricketing ideas match his own.
But if staff appointments become part of Laxman’s expanded responsibilities under the proposed structure, Gambhir could continue to command the Indian team on a day-to-day basis while having less control over the broader coaching and support setup.
The Director of Cricket could have an important say in who works within India’s cricketing ecosystem and how their performances are evaluated.
If a particular department is not performing well, Laxman could potentially review the situation and recommend changes.
This would be a major difference.
Gambhir may remain the head coach, but he could have another senior cricketing authority above him monitoring how the overall coaching setup is functioning.
However, the BCCI has not yet publicly released the detailed powers attached to the proposed role, so the exact extent of Laxman’s authority over appointments remains to be seen.
4. Agarkar May Select the Team, But Within a Bigger Blueprint
Ajit Agarkar’s situation is slightly different.
The selection committee has a defined responsibility, and there is currently no official confirmation that the Director of Cricket will simply take over squad selection.
Therefore, saying that Laxman will personally decide every player who gets selected would be going too far.
But there is another way his influence could become important.
The selectors could have to operate within India’s broader long-term cricketing blueprint.
For example, India are building towards the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Which players should be developed over the next year? Who are the backups? How much importance should be given to experience? Which youngsters should be fast-tracked? How should workloads be managed?
If the Director of Cricket is responsible for preparing that broader roadmap, the selectors will naturally have to take it into account.
Agarkar could still select the squad, but he may no longer have complete freedom to look at each series in isolation.
That is where Laxman’s influence as VVS Laxman Director of Cricket could become much bigger than simply having a say over 15 players selected for a particular tour.
5. Senior Players’ Future May No Longer Be Gambhir-Agarkar’s Call Alone
This could become one of the most important aspects of the new structure.
India have several major decisions to make before the 2027 ODI World Cup, particularly regarding their senior players.
Questions around how long experienced players remain part of India’s plans will naturally become more important as the tournament gets closer.
Under the proposed system, Gambhir and Agarkar may not be able to map out such transitions entirely on their own.
The Director of Cricket could be responsible for coordinating the bigger policy.
Does a senior player remain part of India’s plans until the 2027 World Cup? When should a younger player be introduced? How does India make the transition without suddenly losing experience? What should be the team’s ideal combination for World Cup conditions?
These decisions are much bigger than one bilateral series.
That is exactly where the BCCI could see value in having a Director of Cricket sitting above the coaching and selection structures.
However, it would be incorrect at this stage to say that Laxman alone will decide whether Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli or any other senior player plays the 2027 World Cup.
The official division of powers has not yet been announced.
🚨VVS Laxman Will Take a Call on Rohit Sharma’s World Cup Future 🚨
Gambhir and Agarkar can no longer map out long-term veteran transitions in isolation. Laxman will coordinate macro policy for senior players leading up to the 2027 ODI World Cup 🏏 pic.twitter.com/RHnEkCtR39
— CricInformer (@CricInformer) August 14, 2026
So, Will Gambhir and Agarkar Really Become Laxman’s ‘Puppets’?
Not exactly — at least based on what has been reported so far.
Gautam Gambhir will still have an important role as India’s head coach. He will work directly with the players, prepare the team and make tactical decisions.
Similarly, Ajit Agarkar and his committee will continue to have their selection responsibilities unless the BCCI officially changes that structure.
But one thing could certainly change: their independence.
If Laxman sits above both in the hierarchy and is given responsibility for coordinating the CoE, coaching setup, selection structure and long-term cricketing roadmap, Gambhir and Agarkar could have considerably less freedom than before. Reports currently indicate that Laxman’s proposed designation would indeed put him above the head coach and chief selector in the hierarchy.
They would still have powers, but those powers could operate within a larger system overseen by the Director of Cricket.
So, calling them ‘puppets’ may be an exaggeration.
But saying that VVS Laxman could become one of the most powerful cricketing decision-makers in the BCCI, with Gambhir and Agarkar operating below him in the reported hierarchy, would not be far from what the current reports suggest.
When Could the New Structure Come Into Effect?
Reports published on August 14 suggest that Laxman is likely to be named BCCI Director of Cricket. However, the BCCI has not yet publicly released a detailed job description defining every power attached to the position.
That distinction is important.
Until the BCCI officially explains the reporting structure, it would be premature to claim that Laxman can overrule every selection decision made by Agarkar or every cricketing decision made by Gambhir.
What the reports do indicate is a possible move towards a more centralised cricketing structure.
And if VVS Laxman becomes Director of Cricket with the authority currently being reported, the balance of power in Indian cricket could change considerably.
Gambhir could remain the coach. Agarkar could remain the chief selector.
But above them could now be VVS Laxman.
