Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have made changes to their coaching staff ahead of the Women’s Premier League (WPL 2026) season. Former England fast bowler Anya Shrubsole has been named as their new bowling coach, while former Tamil Nadu spinner Malolan Rangarajan will step in as head coach.
Bengaluru finished fourth among five teams in the last WPL season. The franchise secured its maiden title under Smriti Mandhana’s captaincy in 2024. RCB are now preparing to reshape their squad ahead of the mega auction set to take place on November 26, with the player retention deadline on November 5.
RCB Appoints Malolan Rangarajan as Head Coach, Anya Shrubsole Joins as Bowling Coach
Royal Challengers Bengaluru have announced changes to their coaching setup ahead of WPL 2026. Anya Shrubsole has joined the team as bowling coach, while Malolan Rangarajan will take over as head coach for the upcoming season.
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Former head coach Luke Williams withdrew from the role due to his commitments with the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League (BBL). The WPL has been pre-poned by a month and will be played from January 8 to early February 2026.
India and Sri Lanka are set to co-host the men’s T20 World Cup in the February-March window. The WPL will also serve as valuable preparation for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, scheduled for June-July 2026.
Anya Shrubsole Set for First Coaching Role in the Women’s Premier League
Anya Shrubsole, a 2017 World Cup winner with England, is set to begin her first coaching stint in the Women’s Premier League with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The former fast bowler retired from international cricket in 2022 after taking more than 200 wickets across formats.
Following her retirement, Shrubsole took on a dual role as both player and assistant coach with Charlotte Edwards’ Southern Vipers in England’s domestic setup. She will bring international experience and tactical insight to the bowling unit.
Shrubsole replaces former India cricketer Sunetra Paranjape, who held the bowling coach position until 2025. The franchise has maintained continuity in its support staff, with R. Muralidhar continuing as batting coach and Navnita Gautam remaining as head physiotherapist.
Malolan Rangarajan Has Been in Association with RCB Since the Inaugural WPL Edition
Malolan Rangarajan has been with Royal Challengers Bengaluru since the Women’s Premier League’s inaugural season. He is set to take charge as head coach for the upcoming edition. Rangarajan has played multiple roles within the setup and worked under Ben Sawyer and Mike Hesson in 2023.
Apart from his WPL duties, Rangarajan also serves as the lead scout for RCB’s men’s team. His immediate responsibility as head coach will be to finalize the list of retained players before the November 5 deadline. The WPL mega auction is set to take place on November 26 in New Delhi.
RCB are reportedly set to continue with Smriti Mandhana as captain and their top retention for the new cycle. The management is also holding talks to retain key performers such as Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh, Sophie Molineux, and Shreyanka Patil.
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