Could VVS Laxman be Gautam Gambhir's replacement (Source: AFP)
India's humiliating whitewash in the home Test series at the hands of the current World Test Champions, South Africa, has raised concerns about Gautam Gambhir's coaching abilities, especially in the longest format of the game.
India's demolition in the Tests under Gambhir's helm is known to one and all. He now holds the worst Test coaching records in recent times. Out of the 19 Tests, he has won only 7 matches, giving him a win percentage of 36.84, the worst of any coach in the modern era.
It is worth noting that India's next Test assignment is in Sri Lanka in August 2026. Hence, given India's recent Test form, sacking Gambhir may be considered. In that case, the following 3 names come as the top contenders for the role. Let's examine credibility and see if they could replace Gautam Gambhir as the Indian coach.
VVS Laxman
The former Indian cricketer, VVS Laxman, is currently the head of the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) Centre of Excellence (COE), and went to London as part of the India Under-19s tour of the United Kingdom.
The 51-year-old has served as the backup head coach of India on numerous occasions, three times in 2022 - in T20Is in Ireland, the Asia Cup, and during the white-ball series against New Zealand. Moreover, he has also coached the senior team in the 2023 Asian Games and T20Is in Zimbabwe and South Africa in 2024.
Notably, under his guidance, India won most of their T20I series, including gold in the Asian Games.
In 21 T20Is and ODIs under Laxman's leadership, the senior men's team has won 14, while three have resulted in ties.
Ravi Shastri
India's go-to man in a crisis, Ravi Shastri, has a proven record in Tests. Shastri, in his tenure as the head coach from 2017 to 2021, oversaw 43 Tests, with 25 wins, 13 losses, and 5 draws, giving him a strong 58.1 per cent win rate and landmark overseas victories.
Not only did the Virat Kohli and Shastri pair make a name for themselves at the home soil, but their dominance on foreign grounds is also equally dominant.
Anil Kumble
Anil Kumble may be an unexpected name in the tally, but his stats tell a different story. Kumble, from 2016 to 2017, was in charge of 17 Tests, winning 12, losing just 1, and drawing 4 - an outstanding 70.6 per cent win rate, the best among Indian coaches with at least 15 matches.
The 55-year-old had a highly successful tenure in terms of numbers, but his contract as the coach was cut short due to a personality clash with Virat Kohli, the then captain of the Indian cricket team.
Despite the friction, India reached the 2017 Champions Trophy final and became a dominant Test side.
