Sunil Gavaskar backs Laxman Sivaramakrishnan’s coaching ambitions, calls him a ‘terrific bowler’

Sunil Gavaskar backs Laxman Sivaramakrishnan for an IPL coaching role after the former India spinner approached LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka.

Updated : Oct 21, 2026 08:41 IST - 3 MINS READ

Sivaramakrishnan made his India debut as a teenager and went on to play nine Tests and 16 One-Day Internationals. 

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has backed Laxman Sivaramakrishnan’s bid to become a spin-bowling coach in the Indian Premier League (IPL), describing the former leg-spinner as a “terrific bowler” who thought deeply about the game.

In his latest column for Sportstar, Gavaskar said Sivaramakrishnan’s understanding of the craft could prove valuable to young Indian cricketers, following the former India international’s public offer to work with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).

@DrSanjivGoenka I am Laxman Sivaramakrishnan former Indian cricketer. If you are looking for a spin bowling coach, please let me know. I have confidence that I can deliver the results.

— Laxman Sivaramakrishnan (@LaxmanSivarama1) October 17, 2026

“It was interesting to read about the application Laxman Sivaramakrishnan made for an opportunity to work as a bowling coach,” Gavaskar wrote.

Sivaramakrishnan, 60, approached LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka through a post on X, expressing confidence in his ability to deliver results if given an opportunity to coach the franchise’s spinners.

“@DrSanjivGoenka I am Laxman Sivaramakrishnan former Indian cricketer. If you are looking for a spin bowling coach, please let me know. I have confidence that I can deliver the results,” he posted.

Gavaskar highlighted Sivaramakrishnan’s understanding of spin bowling and the importance of a captain’s faith in a leg-spinner, whose attacking approach can sometimes come at the cost of runs.

“During his time, he was a terrific bowler who thought deeply about the game. Confidence was not always his strongest suit and, as every leg-spinner will tell you, he needed a captain who understood that a leggie can be expensive at times but is a match-winner, too,” Gavaskar wrote.

Sivaramakrishnan made his India debut as a teenager and went on to play nine Tests and 16 One-Day Internationals. He claimed 26 wickets in Tests and 15 in ODIs, with his best figures of 6 for 64 coming against England in Mumbai in 1984. He later established himself as a familiar voice in cricket broadcasting, bringing his knowledge of spin bowling to television commentary.

Gavaskar also argued that franchises could benefit from tapping into the experience of former Indian cricketers who have a strong understanding of the technical and tactical aspects of the game.

“There are so many like him who could be a great help to the young Indians in the teams,” he wrote.

Among those he identified were former India pacer Praveen Kumar, whom he praised for his ability to swing the ball and vary his deliveries, and Piyush Chawla, a member of India’s 2011 ODI World Cup-winning team.

“If age is not a factor, Balwinder Singh Sandhu, too, has a deep knowledge not just of swing bowling but of the game itself,” Gavaskar added.

He also named former India pacers R. P. Singh and former left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha as potential coaching resources, while noting that both currently serve as national selectors.

Gavaskar suggested that former cricketers working as television analysts could also consider coaching if they wished to pursue that path.

“I have not named many others because they are pursuing careers as television analysts, but if they wish to, they, too, could be terrific coaches,” he wrote.