VVS Laxman's NCA stint ends soon, can BCCI convince him for Team India's top job?

VVS Laxman, currently the Head of Cricket at the National Cricket Academy has been among BCCI favourites to take up Team India's head coach role.

His stint at the NCA ends in September and it remains to be seen how BCCI manages to retain him in the set-up.

While BCCI secretary Jay Shah has clarified that they did not approach Ricky Ponting or Justin Langer for the job, their top contender remains Gautam Gambhir or any other senior Indian who knows the country's cricket system inside out.

Laxman seems to be the most obvious successor given that the stylish former from Hyderabad has been an interim India coach during his nearly three-year stint at NCA (National Cricket Academy).

But he hasn't applied for the post which will be both physically and mentally a taxing for next three and half years. The last date to submit applications is May 27.

Should he choose to apply, Laxman would be on strong footing owing to the goodwill he enjoys at the BCCI's High Performance Centre as the structural head of country's pathways cricket system (India A, Emerging, U-19, and junior women's cricket).

A former BCCI office-bearer told PTI on conditions of anonymity, 'If he (Laxman) is not willing to work full-time, he can always be the consultant when India play marquee red-ball series in Australia this year and England next year.'

Recently, during a media interaction in Mumbai, Shah made it clear that there will be only one head coach for the national team. But there is a school of thought that Laxman's expertise in red-ball cricket could be put to use purely for the format.

If he does not accept the head coach's role, it is likely that Laxman will shift back to an IPL franchise along with commentating.