The Indian women’s cricket team, fresh from creating history by winning the Women’s World Cup 2025, may soon witness a major change in its coaching staff. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly preparing to appoint the first-ever foreign Strength & Conditioning (S&C) coach for the women’s national side. The move comes as part of the board long-term vision to upgrade fitness standards and bring modern training methods into the system ahead of upcoming global tournaments.
BCCI in Advanced Talks With Bangladesh Trainer Nathan Kiely
According to internal discussions, BCCI is currently in conversation with Nathan Kiely, the existing S&C coach of the Bangladesh men’s national team. Kiely, who has also served as assistant coach for the New South Wales First-Class side in Australia, is expected to join the Centre of Excellence (COE), Bengaluru, in the coming weeks.
If finalised, Kiely will officially become the first foreign S&C coach in the history of Indian women’s cricket.
Why is BCCI Bringing a Foreign Coach?
The board decision is heavily influenced by its renewed focus on:
- Elite-level fitness standards
- Modern recovery techniques
- Scientific strength training
- Better injury management
The recent World Cup victory underlined India’s growing dominance, but also highlighted that fitness depth and long-term durability need further strengthening — especially with a packed cricket calendar and major ICC tournaments ahead.
AI Harsha May Take Up a New Role
Current fitness coach AI Harsha, who played a significant role in improving athlete conditioning during the World Cup campaign, is likely to be moved into a broader developmental role within BCCI.
The board wants Harsha to contribute to long-term fitness projects, talent development, and inter-departmental coordination at the COE.
COE Also Adds Two New S&C Coaches
Along with Kiely potential entry, the Centre of Excellence has recently appointed:
- Pratyush Agarwal – Former Assistant S&C coach at Delhi Capitals
- Amit Vengurlekar – Former Assistant S&C coach at Lucknow Super Giants
Both coaches were selected after outperforming several experienced state-level candidates, signalling BCCI’s push for a stronger and more competitive fitness ecosystem.
