India’s women’s cricket system is entering another phase of long-term expansion, with the BCCI moving to deepen its development infrastructure through a new set of specialist coaching appointments at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. According to an exclusive report by the Times of India’s Gaurav Gupta, former India players Nooshin Al Khadeer, Sunetra Paranjpe and V.R. Vanitha have joined the setup to oversee bowling, batting and fielding programmes respectively within the women’s pathway structure.
Focus shifts towards long-term depth and succession
The appointments arrive at a time when the BCCI is increasingly prioritising succession planning and specialist development across women’s cricket following the rapid commercial and competitive growth of the game in India.
The expansion of the Women’s Premier League, increased investment in domestic structures and India’s Women’s World Cup triumph last year have accelerated the board’s focus on strengthening talent identification and elite preparation systems beneath the senior national side.
Former India Women’s Team Captain Diana Edulji told TOI: “It’s a good step by the BCCI. It shows how much women’s cricket has grown in India, and that the BCCI is taking it very seriously… This trio will enable us to build the bench strength of women’s cricket in the future…”
The Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, overseen by Former India Captain VVS Laxman, has become central to the BCCI’s high-performance planning across age-group cricket, rehabilitation programmes and emerging player development.
Coaches bring experience across pathways and domestic cricket
Among the new appointments, Nooshin Al Khadeer arrives with extensive experience across both international cricket and age-group coaching structures. The former India off-spinner claimed 100 wickets in ODIs and later guided India’s Under-19 Women’s sides to T20 World Cup titles in 2023 and 2025.
Paranjpe joins the setup after building a strong reputation within domestic women’s cricket, including leading Mumbai to consecutive domestic women’s T20 titles during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. The former India all-rounder represented the national side in both Tests and ODIs during her playing career.
Vanitha, who featured for India in ODI and T20I cricket between 2014 and 2016, has also worked in coaching and talent development roles within the women’s game .
Women’s cricket enters a major international cycle
The appointments come ahead of a significant international period for India Women, who are currently touring England before the start of the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup.
India, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, have been drawn in Group A alongside Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Netherlands for the tournament in England and Wales. Their campaign begins against Pakistan on June 14 at Edgbaston.
The England tour also includes a one-off Test at Lord’s from July 10 to 13, with the latest appointments expected to further strengthen the coaching and development pipeline feeding into India’s future women’s squads.
