Mumbai: The BCCI has decided that VVS Laxman, head of the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, will regularly attend senior men’s selection meetings to avoid miscommunication between selectors, team management and the development pipeline.
BCCI secretary confirmed the move, framing it as a structural fix rather than a reaction to any single incident. “Laxman brings the CoE perspective — fitness, workload, emerging talent — directly into the room where squads are picked,” he said.
Why this matters
Selection meetings have occasionally produced confusion in recent years: players picked while carrying niggles, or fast bowlers rushed back without the CoE’s workload data being fully factored in. Having Laxman in the room closes that loop.
As CoE head, Laxman oversees rehabilitation, the India A programme and the talent pathway. His presence means selectors hear first-hand about a player’s physical readiness and a youngster’s form in the development system.
Laxman’s growing influence
The former India batter has quietly become one of the most influential figures in Indian cricket’s backroom. Under him, the CoE has streamlined injury management and built a clearer bridge between domestic performances and India A selection.
Selection committee meetings are typically attended by the five selectors, the head coach and the captain (for respective formats). Laxman’s regular inclusion adds a performance-science voice that has been missing.
What changes on the ground
In practice, expect fewer surprises around fitness-related selections and a smoother flow of information on emerging players. For fans, it should mean squads that better reflect who’s actually ready — not just who’s performed.
The new arrangement begins with the upcoming selection meetings for the New Zealand tour.
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