After Devajit Saikia, BCCI VP Rajeev Shukla issues clearcut message on Gautam Gambhir: 'No plan to bring new head coach'

After Devajit Saikia, BCCI VP Rajeev Shukla issues clearcut message on Gautam Gambhir (AP Photo)

Days after reports emerged of BCCI possibly thinking about split coaching and even approaching VVS Laxman for red ball setup, the BCCI has vociferously crushed all such rumours. It all began with BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia denying the same and now joining the bandwagon is the board's vice-president Rajeev Shukla.

While Gambhir has done a good job in the white ball formats, the team has barely achieved any high in red ball. India were recently humiliated 2-0 by World Test Champions South Africa at home, adding to the debacle by New Zealand, who inflicted a 3-0 drubbing at home last year.

The whitewash by New Zealand played a significant role in costing India a place in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final, and the latest setback to the Proteas could also end up having similar repercussion in the next final set to be played in 2027.

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Reacting to media reports, Shukla has made clear that Gambhir will not be removed as head coach of the Indian Test team. "I want to make it very clear regarding the speculation circulating in the media about head coach Gautam Gambhir. The BCCI secretary (Devajit Saikia) has also made it very clear that there is no plan to remove Gambhir or bring in a new head coach for India," Shukla told ANI.

Earlier, speaking to ANI, Saikia said the board has not taken any steps to change the leadership group in the longest format of the game. "This is totally incorrect news going on. This is totally speculative news. Some very reputed news agencies are also flashing the news. There is no truth to it. BCCI straight away denies. People can think all they want, but BCCI has not taken any steps. This is somebody's figment of imagination; there is no truth in it, and I cannot say anything except that this is factually incorrect and baseless news," Saikia said.