The BCCI has launched a major recruitment drive to fill key coaching and sports science positions at its Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru following the departure of top staff, including bowling coach Troy Cooley.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is ushering in a new era where it has begun scouting for the best coaching and sports science professionals from across the country at its Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. The decision comes after a number of changes at the High Performance Centre, and this could be the biggest change to the center since its opening.
The reason behind this change is the position of Troy Cooley, the highly acclaimed bowling coach whose three-year term ended recently. Cooley, who has groomed talent at fast bowling camps in India and abroad, was reportedly in talks for a contract extension. However, now that his departure has become real, the BCCI has been swift in filling the void.
Three full-time positions, namely batting coach, bowling coach, and head of sports science and medicine, are vacant, and all of these are crucial for the long-term roadmap for the development of Indian players.
The coaching positions are customized for experienced cricketers and former first-class or overseas cricketers who qualify at Level 2 or Level 3 under the BCCI’s renowned coaching scheme. It is more than just qualifications; it also requires professionals with at least five years of experience at the state or higher youth level who are comfortable with all the modern performance tools and digital coaching platforms.
Cooley’s successor is yet to be identified, and names doing the rounds internally include former India pacer VRV Singh, who is now the developmental coach. Singh is a close associate of Cooley at the NCA and could prove to be a natural choice given his familiarity with the system.
The same is the case in other departments as well. This year the Centre lost spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule to the Rajasthan Royals, and Sitanshu Kotak was brought in as a promoted national team coach. Head of the medical and rehab wing, Nitin Patel, also resigned in March, after three years.
With such departures, the BCCI is also monitoring the future of VVS Laxman, who has been chairing the COE since its rebranding as the National Cricket Academy. According to sources, Laxman might not serve his tenure after the current one, though there are rumors that he might be extended till the 2027 ODI World Cup.
The Head of Sports Science and Medicine position, in the meantime, is a position being sold as a leadership role—perfectly aligned to a PhD in sports science and the handling of high-performance teams. It requires an individual to lead injury prevention, athlete development, and long-term performance planning at all ages at the BCCI.
The closing date is August 20, 2025, and all the jobs are full-time and locational in Bengaluru. In the next couple of weeks, shortlisted candidates will be summoned to take part in interviews.
This recruiting spree by Indian cricket is not necessarily about filling positions; it is about a crash renewal. The next step at the COE would define the future talent pipeline in India in the next few years.
