3 weeks ago
BCCI CoE still seeking sports science head as candidates withdraw
India's cricket board has a special centre in the city of Bengaluru called the Centre of Excellence, where players get fit and recover from injuries.
The person who was in charge of sports science and player fitness there left more than a year and a half ago.
Since then, the board has been trying to find a new boss for that team.
It found some very good candidates from different countries, including Australia and New Zealand.
But just when they were about to say yes, each one changed their mind.
Some said they couldn't move to Bengaluru, and others said they had personal or family reasons.
The job is full-time, which means the person must work every day and watch players closely, not just visit sometimes.
In the meantime, two players got hurt and couldn't play in the matches against Sri Lanka, so some people wondered if the centre was doing its job properly.
The board says the centre is still working well because other experts share the work in four different areas.
It is still looking for the right person to take the job.
BCCI's Centre of Excellence has been without a head of sports science since Nitin Patel left after March 2025.
Top candidates, including Andrew Leipus, an unnamed Australian expert, and the All Blacks' former head of sports science, withdrew after nearing agreement.
Candidates cited family reasons, reluctance to relocate to Bengaluru, and the job's full-time, day-to-day monitoring demands.
Jasprit Bumrah and B Sai Sudharsan were ruled out of the Sri Lanka Tests after failing to recover in time, fuelling scrutiny of the CoE.
VVS Laxman defended the CoE and said the workload has been divided into four verticals while the search for a suitable candidate continues.
- Who
- BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, led by head of cricket VVS Laxman, with BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia involved in the recruitment interviews.
- What
- The BCCI has been unable to fill the head of sports science position at the CoE for over 18 months, with several shortlisted candidates withdrawing at the last moment.
- Where
- BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
- When
- More than 18 months since Nitin Patel left after March 2025; the details were disclosed in August 2026.
- Why
- Candidates pulled out citing family reasons, the requirement to relocate to Bengaluru, and the job's full-time, day-to-day monitoring demands; the BCCI also wants someone with knowledge and understanding of Indian cricketers.
Critics of CoE's injury management
BCCI and CoE leadership
Role of the CoE in injury management
Critics of CoE's injury management
The mounting injury crisis, including Jasprit Bumrah and B Sai Sudharsan being ruled out of the Sri Lanka Tests, raises questions about fitness protocols at the CoE.
BCCI and CoE leadership
VVS Laxman insists the CoE is not merely a rehab centre and has bigger roles in helping cricketers achieve excellence; he also denies any communication breakdown at the CoE.
Impact of the vacant sports science head post
Critics of CoE's injury management
Ramji Srinivasan warned that without someone heading the sports science domain, accountability, processes, and protocols could be missing across departments.
BCCI and CoE leadership
Laxman says the workload has been divided into four verticals and credited the existing professionals who stepped up; he added that the board is actively searching for a qualified candidate.
Key facts
- Role vacant
- Head of Sports Science & Medicine (SSM)
- Organisation
- BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE), Bengaluru
- Vacant for
- Over 18 months (since Nitin Patel left after March 2025)
- Previous office holder
- Nitin Patel
- Candidates who withdrew
- Andrew Leipus, an unnamed Australian expert, and the All Blacks' former sports science head
- Key recruitment conditions
- Full-time job, day-to-day monitoring, relocation to Bengaluru
- Players ruled out of Sri Lanka Tests
- Jasprit Bumrah and B Sai Sudharsan
- Head of Cricket, CoE
- VVS Laxman
Quotes
Ramji Srinivasan
Renowned strength and conditioning coach
“"It is a very important post because they are the person who heads the entire sports science domain. The person who heads the show should be really, really competent and know the subject, whether it can be a sports med doctor or an exercise physiologist."”
indianexpress.com
“"After Nitin left, we did not get anyone who can fill in that position… we shortlisted five candidates and number one was an Australian. After selecting him, suddenly he backed out saying he cannot move to Bengaluru."”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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