Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has added former England star Anya Shrubsole to its Women’s Premier League (WPL) coaching staff. The England fast‑bowling legend, who won the 2017 ODI World Cup and took over 200 wickets in her career, will serve as the squad’s new bowling coach, stepping in for outgoing Sunetra Paranjape.
Shubsole joins head coach Malolan Rangarajan, who has just been promoted to that role after a long stint as assistant. The change follows the departure of Luke Williams, who led RCB through the 2024 and 2025 campaigns but is now busy coaching the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League (BBL).
The WPL’s schedule has been moved a month forward, running from January 8 to early February 2026. That shift clashed with Williams’ BBL commitments. India is also set to co‑host the men’s T20 World Cup with Sri Lanka from February to March, followed by the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL), which explains the need for fresh coaching arrangements.
After hanging up her international gloves in 2022, Shrubsole turned her focus to coaching. She spent time as a player‑assistant coach at the Southern Vipers, working under former England captain Charlotte Edwards. Her first role in the WPL comes on a high note, as RCB seeks to build on a memorable title win in 2024 before the men’s team captured the IPL in 2025.
Rangarajan, a former Tamil Nadu off‑spinner, has been with RCB’s WPL operations since the 2023 franchise started. He helped guide the squad to its first championship in 2024 before the team finished fourth in 2025. In addition to coaching duties, Rangarajan will manage player retention ahead of the November 5 deadline and the auction on November 26 in New Delhi.
RCB plans to keep captain Smriti Mandhana on the roster. Negotiations are ongoing with high‑profile players Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh, Sophie Molineux and Shreyanka Patil. Other support staff, such as batting coach R. Muralidhar and head physio Navnita Gautam, are expected to stay on.
With a new bowling coach who brings World Cup experience and a head coach eager to lead the team into 2026, RCB is positioning itself for a strong showing in the Women’s Premier League.
Source: ianslive
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