In frame: VVS Laxman and MS Dhoni (Source: AFP)
As per recent developments, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is seriously considering potential leadership and administrative realignments ahead of its upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM), which is scheduled for September.
Notably, with Ajit Agarkar’s tenure as chairman of the senior selection committee set to end in September and the national team’s coaching setup also under scrutiny, the board could make some significant changes.
Reports have indicated that VVS Laxman’s credentials as a calm leader with a team-first approach are set to be rewarded with a special, never-before-seen role as Director of Cricket.
However, this isn’t the first time such a step has been planned. Over the years, the apex body of cricket in India, the BCCI, has set up or worked alongside several high-profile special and probing committees, appointed to curb governance issues and drive structural reforms, with legendary Indian cricketers at the heart of it.
In this article, let’s take a look at such legendary cricketers who have been given a special role in the development of the Indian Cricket Team.
Dilip Vengsarkar: Talent Resource Development Wing (2002) and Cricket Development Committee (2010)
Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar headed the BCCI’s Talent Resource Development Wing (TRDW) in 2002 to scout grassroots talent, and later served on administrative and cricket development committees around 2010 to reform youth structures.
Vengsarkar acted as the founding Chairman of TRDW, deploying scout officers to watch junior matches and grade players objectively. The system successfully discovered future international stars like MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina and RP Singh.
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Apart from that, following his tenure as India’s chief selector (2006-2008), Vengsarkar continued active roles in regional and national cricket development.
As Chairman of the Cricket Development Committee, he focused on expanding free coaching through his private academies and advising on structural improvements to domestic talent pathways.
Ravi Shastri: Indian Team Director (2014)
Following one of the most embarrassing Test series defeats to England in 2014, the apex body of cricket in India, the BCCI, made changes to the coaching staff, including appointing former captain Ravi Shastri as the Indian Team Director for the upcoming one-day series.
Notably, while Duncan Fletcher remained the team's head coach, he reported directly to Shastri, who took control of the dressing room.
Following a positive impact on team morale and performance through the 2015 World Cup, his stint as Team Director was extended until the 2016 World T20. He later returned as the full-time head coach in 2017.
Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman: BCCI Cricket Advisory Committee (2015)
On June 1, 2015, the then-BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya had nominated legendary Indian cricketers Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, and VVS Laxman as esteemed members of the Cricket Advisory Committee.
This advisory committee was established to recommend to the BCCI various progressive steps that needed to be taken to address the challenges of the future.
Areas of immediate focus were to provide guidance to the national team, enhance performance on overseas engagements, improve the talent pathway, and take steps to strengthen domestic cricket to better prepare our players to handle the rigours of International Cricket.
Moreover, during the 2017 Virat Kohli-Anil Kumble fallout, the same committee, comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, and VVS Laxman, served as mediators and staunchly backed Kumble to remain head coach.
However, their mediation failed to bridge the gap between the captain and the coach, ultimately leading to Kumble's resignation.
Later, they were also involved in the appointment of Ravi Shastri as Kumble’s successor.
MS Dhoni: Team India Mentor for ICC T20 World Cup (2021)
In September 2021, the BCCI named former Indian captain MS Dhoni as the mentor for the Indian men’s cricket team for the ICC T20 World Cup held in the UAE and Oman.
The then-BCCI Secretary Jat Shah announced the decision while unveiling the 15-member squad for the tournament. Dhoni, who had called time on his international career only a year back, agreed to serve in the best interest of the team, charging no compensation for his mentoring services.
The 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 Cricket World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy-winning captain worked alongside then-skipper Virat Kohli, vice-captain Rohit Sharma, and head coach Ravi Shastri, all of whom backed the decision to leverage his vast experience in high-pressure global tournament.
VVS Laxman: Director of Cricket (Potential)
The former India batter and current head of the BCCI Centre of Excellence, VVS Laxman, is likely to take on a much bigger responsibility within Indian cricket.
The proposed move would represent a significant expansion of his current responsibilities at the COE, where he has been overseeing player development and high-performance programmes.
Laxman has already remained closely involved with the senior team, stepping in as an interim coach when required. Very recently, he accompanied India’s T20I squad to Zimbabwe while Gautam Gambhir and his regular support staff were rested after the England tour.
While the exact responsibilities would depend on the BCCI’s eventual structure, a Director of Cricket role would potentially place Laxman at the centre of India’s wider cricketing operations.
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