RCB appoints Malolan Rangarajan as head coach for WPL 2026:England’s Anya Shrubsole takes charge as Bengaluru’s bowling coach

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has announced significant changes to its support staff ahead of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 season. Former England fast bowler Anya Shrubsole has been appointed as the team’s new bowling coach, while Malolan Rangarajan, a former Tamil Nadu spinner, will take over as head coach. The changes come as the previous head coach, Luke Williams, will not be available this season due to his commitment to the Adelaide Strikers in Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL). The upcoming WPL season will kick off on January 8, 2026, and continue until early February. Rangarajan takes charge as head coach Rangarajan has been an integral part of the RCB setup since the franchise’s inception. Over the years, he has worked closely with coaches like Ben Sawyer, Mike Hesson, and Luke Williams. His experience and understanding of the team dynamics were crucial in helping RCB win their maiden WPL title in 2024. Also read: Do Indian men women cricketers really get paid equally?: Harmanpreet’s team emulates Kapil, Dhoni Rohit’s men but long way to go before pay parity Taking charge as the head coach, Rangarajan’s first major responsibility will be to oversee player retentions for the upcoming season. The deadline for finalising retained players is November 5. According to sources, RCB is set to retain Smriti Mandhana as captain, with key discussions ongoing regarding Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh, Sophie Molineux, and Shreyanka Patil. Anya Shrubsole to begin her WPL coaching journey For Anya Shrubsole, this will mark her first coaching assignment in the WPL. The 2017 World Cup-winning English bowler retired from international cricket in 2022, after taking over 200 wickets in her illustrious career. Following her retirement, Shrubsole worked as both player and assistant coach for England’s Southern Vipers team. At RCB, she will replace Sujatha Paranjpe as the bowling coach, bringing valuable international experience and a tactical edge to the bowling department. Stability in the support staff for RCB RCB has opted to maintain stability in other coaching roles. R. Muralidharan will continue as the team’s batting coach, while Navnita Gautam remains as the head physiotherapist. Also read: Harmanpreet recreates Dhoni’s picture after historic World Cup win: IN PHOTOS- From captain’s Bhangra to jubilant celebrations across homes of World Champions With a fresh coaching setup and a strong core of retained players, RCB aims to build on their 2024 title win and make another dominant run in the WPL 2026 season. The WPL mega auction, where teams will finalise their squads, is likely to be held in New Delhi on November 26.