BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) head VVS Laxman will regularly attend India’s selection meetings as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) seeks to improve communication among the selectors, team management, and the Bengaluru-based facility.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the decision was taken during the review meeting in Mumbai and will be followed going forward. Laxman, who is the head of cricket at the BCCI, will provide the selectors with the latest information regarding players, particularly their injury and rehabilitation status.
“VVS was in the meeting to ensure there is no miscommunication between the selectors and the CoE,” Saikia told The Times of India.
“He is the head of cricket at the BCCI. He has all the information about the players’ injuries, so to avoid any miscommunication, Laxman should attend the selection meetings going forward. It was decided after the review meeting in Mumbai,” he added.
BCCI concerned over frequent player injuries
Saikia also admitted that the recurring injury issues among Indian players have become a major concern for the board. However, he clarified that Laxman’s involvement in selection meetings is not aimed at making the process more transparent.
“It is not about transparency. It is about ensuring that the selectors get complete and accurate information so that they can make the right decisions,” Saikia said.
The decision comes at a time when injuries have repeatedly disrupted India’s plans across formats. With the 2027 ODI World Cup approaching, the team management is keen to identify and build a settled combination well in advance.
Gill equals Dhoni, Ganguly and Yuvraj in ODI record
India captain Shubman Gill recently acknowledged the frustration caused by injuries and scheduling after the third ODI against West Indies. Gill admitted that India have not been able to field their preferred bowling attack consistently and stressed the importance of settling the squad with limited time left before the World Cup.
“I would say it’s been unfortunate, you know, with the injuries and with the scheduling, with the other matches being around. It’s been a little bit unfortunate that we have not been able to play the bowling lineup that we would like to,” Gill told reporters.
With Laxman now expected to be a regular presence in selection meetings, the BCCI will hope that better coordination between the CoE, selectors and team management can help India manage player workloads and injuries more effectively ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
