I would be mentioning steps to follow if you want to get into XLRI for BM. So, here's how it goes:

1. A good XAT score can do more than half of the job.
2. Your solid communication skills actually prove to the panel that you are hard-working and will learn throughout the two years you would spend here.

Both of these steps is a pretty easy task to do and to achieve these skills, you do not require to do something extraordinary. Even if you have any coaching around your locality, perhaps consider joining it as they can provide you the guidance that is required.

Also, something which is more important and needs more emphasis are a few factors, which I feel you should introspection on are:

1. Is BM going to help you in the long run of life? Is it actually going to help you achieve something and establish yourself?
2. Why exclusively XLRI when it comes to BM?

The reason I mention these is that they are generally asked by the interviewers. I hope my answer has given you direction.

If someone does not have their heart set on a particular thing, the matter of selection becomes complicated.

An MBA and career specialization can only be chosen once in a lifetime except for a few extremely rare cases.

You must research and read articles about HR and try to answer the questions about if you would like to work at the place because XLRI offers one of the best HR management courses available in Asia. Top firms and Multinational companies recruit for their coveted HR roles from XLRI and if you get enrolled in a small batch, you would be lucky.If you want to have all the options of consulting, marketing, and finance open, IIM Lucknow is the better choice. But then this would imply that you have to maintain a really good profile to sustain the competition at IIM Lucknow. Keep in mind that not all of the 450 students enrolled at IIM Lucknow end up in a Reputed Company.

Anyone who completes the HRM program from XLRI gets the same facilities as any other who has completed the program. Excluding the students who have taken year drop(s), many of your peers will have the same background.

• If you have scored high in your XAT/CAT nothing will stop the administration from granting admission to the candidate. The administration chooses to overlook the gaps in your applications if the scores meet the eligibility criteria. 
• If you keep your grades high, you will definitely be called up for interviews. Then it is up to the interviewers if they want you to explain your year gaps.
• Students in XLRI HRM can get placed in a variety of roles. Many of these roles include maintenance, where the processes are already spelled out. 
• Companies often come up with ‘leadership development programs where they make you cycle through various HR processes and profiles before assigning one that fits you.

On the other hand, there are companies that specialize in HR consulting profiles like Hay, Hewitt, EY, KPMG, etc where you will have to engage clients in more HR work related to design and less work of administration/maintenance.

Both are among the top 10 B-schools in the country and each of them excels in certain areas. Picking out a simple winner among them is not really a great idea to identify their true potentials. But still, let us try to compare between the two on some aspects –

• • Best known programs – IIM Ahmedabad is known for its general management and marketing courses in particular. XLRI is best known for its human resource program and is considered to be the best program in the country.
  • Teaching methodology – IIM Ahmedabad is more practical and case study focused while XLRI follows more conceptual and theory-based teaching.

• Job Roles - IIM Ahmedabad will build competencies around consulting strategy while XLRI is apt for management-related roles.

So, in the end, it depends on you, what career path you want to choose to determine which institute is better suited for you. You would not regret getting into either of the institutes.