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Is something brewing behind the public's eyes? Former South Africa and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter AB de Villiers senses something has been going on around the India National Cricket Team's head coach position since Shreyas Iyer's appraisals of interim coach VVS Laxman following Team India's 3-0 triumph over Zimbabwe in the recently concluded T20I series.
India cruised past Zimbabwe in the 3-match T20I series with VVS Laxman on the sidelines as the stop-gap head coach, as Gautam Gambhir was not with the team. Without Gambhir on the sidelines, the team led by Shreyas Iyer secured emphatic results throughout the series.
Shreyas Iyer praised VVS Laxman for his coaching method
Iyer praised Laxman for allowing the players to play freely. Shreyas Iyer, who made his debut as captain in the T20Is through the series against Ireland, told the media that communication between Laxman and the players was on point, making it easier for them to perform under his guidance.
As soon as VVS Laxman came in charge as the team's interim coach, speculation began over Gautam Gambhir's future with the team. Gambhir coached the team to unprecedented success in multi-nation tournaments like the 2025 Champions Trophy, 2025 Asia Cup, and the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Should BCCI start to think in a renewed way for a long-term coaching set-up?
There are enough reasons for Gautam Gambhir to continue as the national side's head coach. But there are drawbacks as well. Communication and team selection remain two major areas of debate in the Indian cricket team since Gambhir took the helm.
Additionally, there were multiple bilateral tournaments where India's performance was unexpectedly poor. The whitewash in a T20I series against Ireland marked the latest low.
Will the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) start to think beyond Gautam Gambhir? AB de Villiers senses some heat on Gautam Gambhir, as Iyer's comments were a clear indication that the players enjoyed Laxman's presence in the dressing room.
"Shreyas Iyer was full of praise for VVS Laxman and the way he coached the team. He said that VVS allowed them to be free and the messaging was clear. Is there something boiling? Maybe there is a bit of heat on Gautam Gambhir as the players seem to enjoy VVS' aura and presence in the change room," the former cricketer opined on his YouTube channel, AB de Villiers 360.
AB de Villiers hints about a possible competition between VVS Laxman and Gautam Gambhir
Villiers also believes that VVS Laxman could be pushing Gautam Gambhir for the head coach role of the Indian cricket team. In fact, Laxman has made a strong record for himself through the success in the 2023 Asian Games and in the 2024 T20I series in South Africa, and now the series win against Zimbabwe.
“There seems to be a competition. You think you take a break and rest a little bit to man-manage yourself. And the next minute you realise that the players are enjoying someone else's presence perhaps a bit more. Maybe there is something there with Laxman pushing Gambhir and forcing his hand too," said de Villiers.
