VVS Laxman or Gautam Gambhir? The series in Zimbabwe sparked a debate among India’s coaches
India’s emphatic 3-0 T20I shootout over Zimbabwe did more than end a memorable run of results. Just weeks after a disastrous tour of the UK where the team was whitewashed 4-0 by England in the T20Is, lost the T20I series to Ireland and also dropped the ODI series to England, the turnaround under stand-in coach VVS Laxman has generated a lot of cheers from the fans and even more debates.
The chatter intensified after the BCCI released a dressing room video from Harare where Laxman and captain Shreyas Iyer exchanged cordial words after the clean sweep. The clip quickly went viral, sparking memes, comparisons and calls from sections of fans on social media for Laxman to replace Gautam Gambhir as India’s full-time head coach, despite Gambhir only taking a scheduled break after the England tour.
Laxman, who stepped in when Gambhir and the senior coaching staff took time off he oversaw a relatively inexperienced team ahead of India’s Test series against Sri Lanka. Several regulars are unavailable including Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana, India responded with an authoritative series win which also marked a welcome reset after the disappointment of the UK tour.
In a dressing room address shared by the BCCI, Laxman singled out Shreyas Iyer for the way he responded after a difficult start to his captaincy.
“I would like to specially congratulate Shreyas because he had a tough start to his captaincy but the way he came back, right from day one when he joined us one day before the first game, he was very optimistic.”
Laxman also praised Iyer for instilling faith in a team with several new faces.
“It’s a new group of players. We know only four or five of those who were there in England have joined us on this tour. But he was so confident and a lot of credit for this win has to go to the captain for encouraging each and every one of you.”
Iyer, in turn, acknowledged the role Laxman played in helping the team move on from the setbacks of the previous tour.
“I think we’ve been faultless, honestly, throughout the series, apart from the catches we dropped. It was a phenomenal effort from everyone in the team, including the support staff.”
“Thank you, Mr. VVS, for motivating and inspiring us. Every day when we stepped on the field, I think everything you mentioned was apt and we could relate to it. So thank you very much.”
LAXMAN RESTS SPECULATION
As the dressing room video garnered millions of views, so did the comparison between Laxman and Gambhir. While fans credited Laxman’s calm presence and leadership of the crowd for India’s revival, the former India batsman made it clear that the online debate has no bearing on reality.
Responding to the speculation after the series, Laxman reiterated that he was only filling in while Gambhir and the senior coaching staff took a break after the tough tour of England.
“Look, the captain, the head coach and the support team of the senior team, they have just finished their England series and they are going to have a Test series in Sri Lanka. So this is the only break they have and that is why I have come in,” Laxman said at the post-match press conference.
He also explained that representation in the senior team has long been part of his duties as head of BCCI’s Center of Excellence.
“This has been happening for the last four years, since I took over as head of cricket at the COE.
Laxman added that his role at the Center of Excellence remains deeply rewarding as it allows him to work with cricketers at all levels of the Indian touring system.
“It’s a great opportunity for me to spend time with the players. It’s been quite a fulfilling experience in this role, not only working with senior Indian cricketers, both men and women, but also being part of the whole tour programme.”
WHY LAXMAN IS COMING BACK
It was far from Laxman’s first successful stint as India’s stand-in coach. Whether in Ireland, Zimbabwe or South Africa, he has repeatedly achieved series victories whenever called upon, while leading India to a gold medal in men’s cricket at the 2023 Asian Games.
This record is precisely why the 50-year-old continues to be BCCI’s trusted troubleshooting tool whenever the senior side’s and second-tier team’s schedules overlap. He is expected to reprise the role at the 2026 Asian Games, while Gambhir will return to oversee India’s Test campaign in Sri Lanka.
Zimbabwe’s triumph may have fueled memes and social media debates about India’s coaching future so far, but Laxman himself has left little room for doubt. Gambhir remains firmly at the helm as the former batting great continues to play the role he has embraced over the years – India’s reliable stand-in whenever duty calls.
– The end
Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
Jul 27, 2026 12:47 PM IST