New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly planning to hire new batting and bowling coaches for the Centre of Excellence (CoE). The board has shortlisted former Indian pacers VRV Singh and Laxmipathy Balaji for the bowling coach role, along with a few others.
As per Cricbuzz, BCCI was initially planning to hire an overseas coach as a bowling expert for the CoE in Bengaluru. It was in talks with Steffan Jones, a noted bowling coach from England, to take up the role. However, his appointment has not materialised due to unknown reasons. Balaji has worked as a bowling coach for the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL.
Jones was expected to replace Troy Cooley, who left the CoE last year. After interviewing some renowned foreign coaches, the board has now shifted its attention towards Indian coaches. Balaji and Singh are set to join the CoE as bowling coaches after the conclusion of the ongoing IPL 2026. BCCI will finalise all appointments after the IPL, as some coaches are involved in the league.
P Krishnakumar, who served as the bowling coach of Jammu & Kashmir and helped them win their maiden Ranji Trophy title earlier this year, is also set to join the CoE as a bowling coach. Krishnakumar has worked with the likes of Auqib Nabi, Umran Malik and Yudhvir Singh Charak, among others in his stint with Jammu & Kashmir.
New batting and fielding coaches at CoE
BCCI has also shortlisted a few names for batting and fielding coach positions at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, which helps in identifying talents from the domestic circuit and acts as a bridge between domestic and international cricket. Former Karnataka all-rounder Yere Goud is set to join the CoE as a batting coach.
The 54-year-old played 134 first-class matches and 49 List A games in his career. He will be one of the two batting coaches at the CoE. Dishant Yagnik, who has previously worked as a fielding coach with Rajasthan Royals and is currently the fielding coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders, will be appointed as a fielding coach for the CoE.
He will be one of the four fielding coaches at the Centre of Excellence. BCCI is also set to hire former Indian women’s cricketer Sunetra Paranjape as coach at the CoE.