Lakshmipathy Balaji, VRV Singh in race as BCCI plans major pace-bowling revamp at CoE

NEW DELHI: In a bid to strengthen India’s pace-bowling resources, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is contemplating hiring three fast-bowling coaches at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.

TOI understands that former India pacers Lakshmipathy Balaji and VRV Singh are frontrunners for two of the positions. P Krishna Kumar, who has produced encouraging results with the Jammu and Kashmir team, is also in contention. Former India pacers Vinay Kumar and Tinu Yohanan were also interviewed for the role.

The position of fast-bowling coach at the CoE has remained vacant since Troy Cooley completed his tenure late last year.

It is learnt that the CoE plans to appoint one fast-bowling coach specifically to work with bowlers coming through the age-group system, starting from the Under-16 level. Another coach will focus on bowlers in the scheme of the Indian team, as well as those training at the CoE to sharpen their skills, while the third will assist in coordinating the transition pathway for fast bowlers. The CoE already follows a similar structure for strength and conditioning coaches and physiotherapists.

Sources said the BCCI and the CoE have realised the need for a more robust approach towards developing a larger pool of fast bowlers. The national selectors had introduced a fast-bowling contract scheme in 2024 for a group of emerging pacers, but the initiative was discontinued the following year.

It has also been observed that several young fast bowlers have struggled to sustain progress after breaking onto the scene. The India A programme is no longer considered as robust as it was during Rahul Dravid’s tenure overseeing developmental teams and the erstwhile National Cricket Academy (NCA). During that period, a group of bowlers remained under the close supervision of Dravid and former bowling coach Paras Mhambrey. Umran Malik’s decline is being viewed as an example of why raw fast bowlers require sustained guidance and monitoring.

Apart from the fast-bowling appointments, it is learnt that former Rajasthan wicketkeeper Dishant Yagnik could also take over as a fielding coach at the CoE. Meanwhile, Dhananjay Kaushik has been promoted to head of sports medicine, replacing Nitin Patel.