Sunil Joshi named as spin bowling coach by BCCI ahead of West Indies series; set to work with…

Former Team India spinner Sunil Joshi has been appointed as the spin bowling coach at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, taking over from Sairaj Bahutale. Joshi will work alongside CoE head VVS Laxman to develop and mentor spin bowlers across all age levels, including current national team players.

Joshi was part of Ricky Ponting’s coaching team for Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. The Shreyas Iyer-led team reached the final match but was defeated by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Ahmedabad. They will have to search for a new assistant coach ahead of the new season.

Sunil Joshi Appointed Spin Bowling Coach at BCCI Centre of Excellence

According to a report by The Times of India, several candidates were considered for the role. Sunil Joshi was chosen for the coaching position over contenders like Rakesh Dhruv and Nooshin Al Khadeer, the current India U-19 women’s team coach, due to his experience.

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"Multiple candidates were interviewed for the position earlier this year. But Joshi, with his wealth of coaching experience, pipped the likes of Rakesh Dhruv and Nooshin Al Khadeer, the current India U-19 women's team coach," the report read.

Joshi previously worked with Uttar Pradesh in domestic cricket and served as the spin bowling consultant for Bangladesh’s national team. The 54-year-old played 15 Tests and 69 ODIs between 1996 and 2002. He has a track record of developing spin talent at both domestic and international levels.

Sunil Josh Set to Work With CoE Head VVS Laxman

Before Sunil Joshi, Sairaj Bahutale worked as the spin bowling coach at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, formerly the National Cricket Academy (NCA), but left to join Rajasthan Royals (RR) ahead of IPL 2025.

The BCCI had opened applications for the role in March to develop India’s spin talent across all formats and age groups, including senior men’s and women’s teams.

Joshi will collaborate closely with CoE head VVS Laxman to groom upcoming spinners while also working with the current Indian team’s spin department.

"Role is integral to the development and performance enhancement of India's spin bowling talent across all formats and age groups including India Senior Teams (Men & Women), India A, U-23, U-19, U-16, and U-15 squads and State association players training at the BCCI COE."

Sunil Joshi Will Work in Close Collaboration With Selectors

Sunil Joshi will focus on developing India’s spin talent across all formats and age groups. He will be responsible for planning and conducting training sessions, providing one-on-one technical coaching, and designing individual performance plans with clear, measurable objectives.

He will work in close collaboration with selectors, state and national coaches, performance analysts, and strength and conditioning experts as a key part of his responsibilities.

Joshi will monitor players’ match fitness and assist with injury rehabilitation programs. He will leverage biomechanical analysis and GPS data to improve performance and ensure cricketers are fully prepared for competitive matches.

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