RCB rope in Anya Shrubsole as bowling coach before WPL 2026, new head coach named

Royal Challengers Bengaluru have roped in former England pacer Anya Shrubsole as the bowling coach ahead of Women’s Premier League 2026. The fourth edition of the tournament is scheduled to commence from January 8 and will go on till February end. Shrubsole, who retired from international cricket in 2022, will take up her first assignment in the IPL with RCB in the upcoming season.

RCB get new bowling coach, head coach

As per ESPNCricinfo, Shrubsole’s appointment is a part of RCB’s efforts to revamp their coaching staff. On the other hand, the team will be without the services of head coach Luke Williams due to his commitments with Adelaide Strikers in the BBL. It is pertinent to point out that WPL 2026 overlaps with the upcoming season of the Big Bash League, leading to the head coach’s unavailability. Malolan Rangarajan, who has been with RCB since the inception of WPL, will take over as head coach for the season.

RCB support staff for WPL 2026

1. Malolan Rangarajan – Head coach
2. Anya Shrubsole – Bowling coach
3. R Muralidhar – Batting coach
4. Navnita Gautam – Head physio

The report further states that RCB have more or less decided on their retentions ahead of the WPL 2026 mega auction which is scheduled to be held in November. Smriti Mandhana, the current captain, is the top-choice for the franchise. Meanwhile, the report states that RCB are in talks with Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh, Sophie Molineux and Shreyanka Patil as other probable retentions.

RCB, led by Smriti, lifted the WPL trophy in 2024, ending the trophy drought for the franchise. All five teams in WPL must be ready with their respective lists by November 5. And since it will be a mega auction this time around, a maximum of five players can be retained by each franchise. In that too, either the players can be retained directly, or by exercising the right to match card.