Inside VVS Laxman's coaching record: Is he the answer to India's red-ball woes?

Akshita Patel

VVS Laxman coaching stint [Source: @Miss_Aarohi_18, @OneCricketApp/X.com]VVS Laxman coaching stint [Source: @Miss_Aarohi_18, @OneCricketApp/X.com]

When India’s red-ball struggles mounted through late 2024 and 2025, the name of VVS Laxman inevitably resurfaced in BCCI corridors. 

Quietly respected, deeply trusted, and already embedded in the system, Laxman was reportedly sounded out as a possible alternative to Gautam Gambhir for the Test team. 

But what does Laxman’s actual coaching record say, and is he really the right fit?

VVS Laxman coaching journey timeline

Criterion
ODIs
T20Is
Matches
98
Wins56
Losses21
Tie/No result
0/21/0
Win %55.5%75

(Table: VVS Laxman record as head coach in ODIs and T20Is)

Laxman’s journey as a coach has never been loud or headline-driven. Instead, it has been gradual, system-focused and rooted in player development. 

After retiring, VVS Laxman moved into mentoring roles before becoming Head of Cricket at the National Cricket Academy, now the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. 

From there, he began shaping India’s next generation long before stepping into senior team duties.

His first taste of international coaching came in 2022, when he took charge of a second-string Indian side on a tour of Ireland. India won the T20I series 2-0, and more importantly, the team looked settled and clear in its approach. 

That theme continued whenever Laxman was handed interim responsibility. In T20Is, Laxman has coached India in eight matches, winning six, losing one and tying one, a healthy 75 per cent win rate. 

His biggest success came at the 2023 Asian Games, where India won gold with a young squad, many of whom were experiencing international pressure for the first time. 

In ODIs, the numbers are more modest but still respectable. Across nine matches, India won five and lost two, with two games producing no result. The win percentage is just over 55.

What makes VVS Laxman special?

What truly strengthens Laxman’s case, however, goes beyond raw numbers. He understands Indian cricket’s ecosystem perhaps better than anyone outside the selection committee. 

VVS Laxman has worked closely with U19 players, A team regulars, injury returnees and fringe internationals. Many current first-team players, especially in Tests, have passed through systems overseen by him.

That said, coaching India’s Test side is a different beast. It demands authority in selection debates, firmness in transition calls, and the ability to handle pressure after high-profile losses. 

Gambhir’s struggles in red-ball cricket have come amid experimentation and tough overseas cycles, challenges Laxman would inherit immediately.

The key question is temperament. Unlike Gambhir’s confrontational edge, VVS Laxman brings a calmer, consultative style. 

That could be an asset in rebuilding confidence after heavy defeats. But it also raises doubts about whether he would be decisive enough during periods of tough transition.

Final thought

For now, the BCCI has publicly backed Gautam Gambhir. Yet VVS Laxman remains the most credible internal alternative, not because he is flashy or political, but because he represents continuity, structure and long-term thinking.

If India chooses stability over shock therapy, VVS Laxman would not be a gamble. He would be a measured, system-first choice, one built on trust, patience and understanding of Indian cricket’s deeper layers.