The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru is undergoing a significant coaching overhaul. The premier facility has been actively searching for a full-time fast bowling coach ever since the departure of Troy Cooley late last year due to superannuation. While the board initially held advanced discussions with international candidates, including England's Steffan Jones, the strategic focus has resolutely shifted toward harnessing top-tier domestic talent.
Ex-India pacers VRV Singh, who worked with Cooley, and Laxmipathy Balaji, have been shortlisted for the roles. The duo are expected to take charge after the IPL 2026 concludes on May 31.
Joining Singh and Balaji in contention for a fast bowling coaching role will be P. Krishnakumar. He recently earned widespread acclaim for guiding Jammu and Kashmir to their maiden Ranji Trophy title. Krishnakumar wasinstrumental in the development of the J&K bowling unit, actively mentoring players such as Auqib Nabi, Sunil Kumar, and Yudhvir Singh.
Beyond the fast bowling department, the CoE is also looking to revamp its broader coaching staff. Former Karnataka all-rounder Yere Goud is the leading candidate to join the facility as a batting coach. Additionally, prominent figures such as Sunetra Paranjpe, Nooshin Al Khadeer, and VR Vanitha are being strongly considered for various coaching positions in Bengaluru.
For the fielding coach vacancies, the name that leads the charge is former Rajasthan wicketkeeper Dishant Yagnik, who currently serves as the fielding coach for the Kolkata Knight Riders.
Yagnik also played a crucial role in shaping the Jammu and Kashmir team during their victorious Ranji Trophy campaign.
Other names in consideration for fielding duties include Milap Mewada and Shabarish Mohan.
However, it remains unclear if the BCCI has finalized candidates for specialized support roles, such as performance analyst, head of education, and head of the sports science and medical team.
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Shaunak Ghosh is a Senior Sports Correspondent at Timesnownews with over seven years of experience in print and digital journalism. He holds a postgra...View More
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