BCCI Shakes Setup, Does This For The 1st Time In History
As India’s women’s cricket continues its meteoric rise on the global stage, the BCCI Shakes Setup, Does This For The 1st Time In History by appointing dedicated, specialist female coaches at the Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru. This landmark decision marks a massive structural shift, highlighting the governing body’s commitment to building a sustainable, world-class coaching ecosystem for female cricketers.
Over the last few years, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has systematically overhauled the landscape of the women’s game. From introducing historic equal pay policies to launching the highly successful Women’s Premier League (WPL)—which mirrors the monumental success of the men’s IPL—the board has left no stone unturned. With increased match fees, significantly upgraded training facilities, and a renewed focus on grassroots development, Indian women’s cricket has entered a golden era. This latest coaching appointment is another monumental step forward.
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A Historic First at the Centre of Excellence
According to an exclusive report by the Times of India, the BCCI has appointed three specialist women coaches at its state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru. This is the first time in the history of the development centre that dedicated women coaches have been recruited to spearhead specialized coaching roles.
These newly appointed specialists will have the crucial responsibility of working with both junior and senior emerging players, streamlining the pathway to the national squad. Furthermore, they will coordinate directly with former India legendary batter VVS Laxman, who currently heads cricket operations at the COE. This collaboration ensures that the emerging talent pool receives the highest quality of technical and tactical guidance available in the country.
Meet the Specialist Women Coaches
The three former India internationals selected for these historic roles bring a wealth of playing and coaching experience to the Centre of Excellence:
1. Nooshin Al Khadeer – Bowling Coach
Nooshin Al Khadeer has been officially named the bowling coach at the COE. Nooshin is one of the most respected figures in Indian women’s cricket history. Throughout her illustrious international career, she represented India in 78 ODIs, claiming an impressive 100 wickets at an exceptional economy rate of 3.57. In the longest format of the game, she played 5 Test matches, taking 14 wickets with a phenomenal economy rate of 1.80. Her deep understanding of spin and medium-pace bowling dynamics will be invaluable to the next generation of Indian bowlers.
2. V. R. Vanitha – Fielding Coach
Former India cricketer V. R. Vanitha has been appointed as the fielding coach. After a successful playing career representing India in both One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), Vanitha seamlessly transitioned into the realms of coaching and talent scouting. Her modern approach to fielding and fitness was highly visible during her stint with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Her appointment is expected to dramatically raise the fielding standards of the emerging players at the COE.
3. Sunetra Paranjpe – Batting Coach
Taking charge of the batting department is Sunetra Paranjpe. The former India all-rounder represented the national side in both Test matches and ODIs between 2002 and 2007. Over her international career, Paranjpe played 28 ODIs for India, contributing 322 runs and taking 11 wickets. Her multi-dimensional understanding of the game as an all-rounder will provide emerging batters with a comprehensive technical foundation to tackle diverse international bowling attacks.
Aligning with Global Ambitions: The 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup
This structural shake-up comes at a pivotal time as the focus shifts toward the upcoming 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. Scheduled to be held in England and Wales from June 12 to July 5, 2026, the tournament represents another opportunity for India to assert its dominance on the global stage. India’s campaign will kick off with an intensely anticipated blockbuster clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on June 14 at Edgbaston.
The Indian squad for this highly anticipated tournament has already been announced. Harmanpreet Kaur will continue to lead the side as captain, with the prolific Smriti Mandhana serving as her vice-captain. The ‘Women in Blue’ find themselves placed in a challenging Group A alongside powerhouse teams including Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Netherlands.
The Structural Evolution of Women’s Cricket in India
Historically, women’s cricket in India faced severe bottlenecks, including limited opportunities, low salaries, and minimal public or media attention. However, the narrative has shifted completely following consistent strong performances by the national team in global tournaments. The introduction of the WPL has democratized opportunities, offering domestic players a massive platform to showcase their talent alongside international superstars.
The pinnacle of this upward trajectory was India’s historic maiden triumph at the 2025 World Cup, marking the first time in their history they clinched the ultimate crown. The BCCI’s decisive move to establish specialized coaching structures at the COE ensures that this momentum is sustained. By placing seasoned former players like Nooshin Al Khadeer, V. R. Vanitha, and Sunetra Paranjpe at the core of player development, the BCCI is guaranteeing that the future of Indian women’s cricket remains in highly capable hands.
