Saikia then dismissed such claims, saying that Gambhir's position isn't under threat.
As per PTI, the board had requested VVS Laxman to replace Gambhir as the Test coach.
Also Read: Why Virat Kohli And Rohit Sharma Will Not Play In 3rd Round Of Vijay Hazare Trophy? Explained
“It’s all rumours. We haven’t discussed or approached anyone. He will continue as per the contract," Saikia was quoted as saying on Sports Tak.
Saikia also talked about rumours of Laxman becoming the head coach and said to ANI, “The reports currently circulating are entirely inaccurate and purely speculative. Despite being carried by some reputed media outlets, there is no truth to these claims. The BCCI categorically denies them and has taken no such steps. These reports are based on conjecture and imagination, are factually incorrect, and completely baseless."
After Gambhir became the head coach, the Men In Blue had played seven of 19 Test matches so far. In his regime, two Test matches against teams like Bangladesh (home), one in Australia, two in England, and two against the West Indies. At the same time, they have lost three Test matches against New Zealand, three away Test series against Australia, two away red-ball matches against England, and a couple more home Tests against South Africa.
Gambhir is the only head coach under whom the team has lost 5 Test matches at home and also the only coach to get whitewashed twice in a home Test series.
The Men in Blue will play three more Test series in the World Test Championship (WTC) but have very little chance of finishing in the top two. They can finish in the top two, and for that, they need to win seven of the next 9 matches.
They will be playing a two-match Test series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand in 2026 and then face Australia for a five-match series.
As of December 28, 2025, the BCCI has officially dismissed rumors regarding Gautam Gambhir's removal as India’s Test head coach, calling the reports "baseless" and "factually incorrect."
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia clarified that the board has not discussed or initiated any move to replace Gambhir or transition to a split-coaching model at this time.
The Official Stance
No Replacement Talks: Saikia stated, "BCCI has not taken any steps.
3 This is totally incorrect news going on... it is someone's figment of imagination."Support for Gambhir: The board reaffirmed that Gambhir’s contract remains valid until the 2027 ODI World Cup.
4 VVS Laxman Rumors: Despite reports suggesting that VVS Laxman was "informally approached" to take over the red-ball side, the BCCI denied any such official or unofficial contact.
5 Laxman himself is reportedly content in his current role at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.6
Why the Speculation Started
The rumors gained momentum due to a sharp contrast in India’s performance across formats in 2025:
| Format | 2025 Highlights | Performance Under Gambhir |
| White-Ball | Won Champions Trophy & Asia Cup | Highly Successful |
| Test (Red-Ball) | Lost 0-2 to South Africa & 0-3 to NZ (at home) | Struggling (10 losses in total) |
The "Wait-and-Watch" Period
While his immediate future is secure, insiders suggest that the upcoming T20 World Cup (beginning in five weeks) will be a critical assessment point.
Current Standing: India is currently 6th in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 table.
9 Future Road: After the T20 World Cup and IPL 2026, the BCCI will have a clear window to decide if they want to pursue split coaching for the Test series against Sri Lanka (August 2026) and New Zealand (October 2026).
Would you like me to keep an eye on the squad announcement for the upcoming New Zealand ODI series, which is expected by January 4th?
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