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RCB's Bold Move: World Cup Hero Anya Shrubsole Joins as WPL Bowling Coach

Royal Challengers Bengaluru has made a significant coaching change ahead of the Women's Premier League 2026 season. They've appointed World Cup-winning England pacer Anya Shrubsole as their new bowling coach. Malolan Rangarajan, who has been with RCB since the inaugural WPL season, steps up as head coach. The coaching shuffle comes as RCB prepares for player retentions and the upcoming mega auction in New Delhi.

Key Points: RCB Appoints Anya Shrubsole as WPL 2026 Bowling Coach

  • Former England pacer Anya Shrubsole joins RCB for her first WPL coaching role
  • Malolan Rangarajan promoted to head coach after title-winning 2024 season
  • Coaching changes follow Luke Williams' departure for BBL commitments
  • WPL 2026 serves as key preparation for ICC Women's T20 World Cup
2 min read

RCB appoints Anya Shrubsole as bowling coach for WPL 2026

RCB names World Cup winner Anya Shrubsole as bowling coach for WPL 2026, with Malolan Rangarajan promoted to head coach ahead of crucial season.

"A World Cup winner in 2017, Shrubsole retired from international cricket in 2022 with over 200 wickets. - ESPNcricinfo"

New Delhi, November 3

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has appointed former England pacer Anya Shrubsole as the new bowling coach, ahead of the Women's Premier League 2026 season.

Shrubsole will work alongside Malolan Rangarajan, the former Tamil Nadu spinner, who will step in as head coach for the upcoming season.

The change follows Luke Williams' decision to opt out due to his commitments with Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League, ESPNcricinfo reported.

The WPL 2026 is set to kick off on January 8. This revised timeline positions the WPL perfectly as a crucial preparation phase for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled for June-July.

A World Cup winner in 2017, Shrubsole retired from international cricket in 2022 with over 200 wickets. Her stint with RCB will be her first in the WPL. Sunetra Paranjape was previously the bowling coach of RCB until 2025.

Rangarajan has been an integral part of RCB's Women's Premier League setup since the inaugural season. He worked under Ben Sawyer and Mike Hesson in the first season and later assisted Luke Williams during their title-winning campaign in 2024 and the subsequent season. Now, he'll take over as the head coach for the upcoming season.

The other members of the RCB support staff include R. Muralidhar, who will continue as batting coach, and Navnita Gautam, who is likely to continue in her role as head physio.

Rangarajan's first task will be to finalise the players RCB are retaining ahead of the November 5 deadline, with the WPL mega auction likely to be held on November 26 in New Delhi.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Happy to see Malolan Rangarajan getting promoted to head coach. He's been with RCB women's team from the start and knows the system well. Hope this brings more stability to the team management.
A
Ananya R
While I appreciate Shrubsole's credentials, I wish RCB had considered an Indian bowling coach. We have so many talented former women cricketers who understand our conditions better. Just my two cents.
V
Vikram M
Perfect timing for WPL 2026 to serve as preparation for the T20 World Cup! Smart scheduling by BCCI. Our women's team will get excellent match practice against international stars. 🇮🇳
K
Kavya N
Shrubsole's experience in pressure situations will be invaluable for our young bowlers. Remember her final over in the 2017 World Cup? That kind of big-match temperament is exactly what RCB needs! 🔥
S
Siddharth J
Good to see continuity in the support staff with Muralidhar and Navnita Gautam staying on. Consistency in coaching staff often translates to better team performance. All the best for the mega auction!

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