The Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru is set for a major shake-up, as several key coaching staff members are preparing to depart.
BCCI invites applications for top posts at CEO
Applications have now been opened for top positions in the bowling, batting, and sports science and medicine departments. A significant departure is that of highly respected bowling coach Troy Cooley, who has completed his three-year contract with the BCCI. Cooley, a former Australian first-class bowler and an Ashes-winning coach with England, was appointed to the role in late 2021.
The overhaul extends beyond Cooley. The COE has seen a number of recent exits, including medical team head Nitin Patel, who resigned in March after nearly three years, and spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule, who left to join the Rajasthan Royals. Additionally, NCA coach Sitanshu Kotak has taken on a permanent role with the national team. Former India seamer VRV Singh, who worked under Cooley, is being considered as a potential replacement. The Centre of Excellence, which was previously known as the National Cricket Academy, was inaugurated in February of this year.
Further changes could be on the horizon as well. As per a PTI report VVS Laxman's tenure as head of the COE is reportedly set to expire by the end of this year, and he is not expected to seek an extension. However, there is a possibility he may be asked to continue in the role until the 2027 ODI World Cup.
The BCCI has outlined specific criteria for the three key coaching positions at the Centre of Excellence (COE), with applications now open until August 20. For both the batting and bowling coach roles, applicants must be former first-class or international cricketers holding a BCCI Level-2 or Level-3 coaching certificate. Additionally, they need a minimum of five years of coaching experience at the state or elite youth level and must be technically proficient in relevant software.
“These roles are integral to enhancing India’s cricketing framework across coaching, education, and sports science domains,” the board said, as quoted by Sports Star.
The board stressed that these roles are crucial for improving India's cricketing framework in coaching, education, and sports science. For the head of sports medicine position, candidates must have a master’s degree (a doctorate is preferred) in sports science or a related field. This role also requires a minimum of five years of experience in a leadership capacity, managing multi-disciplinary performance teams.
Notably, August 20 has been kept the deadline for sending the applications