After criticism over the latest injury woes among star players, the BCCI has started searching for a new Sports Science and Medicine head at the Centre of Excellence. The COE has faced growing criticism in recent weeks following a spate of injuries among Indian players.

Concerns have particularly centred on the duration of players' rehabilitation, the methods used to assess their fitness and the coordination between the sports science staff and the national selection committee.

India have been without the services of Jasprit Bumrah, Nitish Kumar Reddy and white-ball specialists Hardik Pandya and Varun Chakravarthy for quite some time and the scrutiny has fallen on the work being done at the centre in Bengaluru.

The COE has been without a sports and medicine head since Nitin Patel stepped down in early 2025. Currently, Dhananjay Kaushik has been handling and supervising the sports science operations in Bengaluru.

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE ROLE

The successful candidate will take charge as the BCCI’s Head of Sports Science and Medicine, with a key focus on player welfare, injury prevention, rehabilitation and long-term physical development. The role will involve building stronger systems to manage injury risks, recovery, wellness and illness while shaping the board’s broader approach to player health and performance.

The appointee will also oversee departmental planning, budgets, staff development and performance management, and may represent the BCCI on performance-related matters when required.

Applicants must hold a master’s degree in Sports Science or a related field, with a doctorate preferred, and have at least five years of strategic leadership experience with multidisciplinary high-performance teams. Experience in professional or Olympic sport and a current professional accreditation or licence in a relevant Sports Science or Medicine discipline are also required.

Experience as a Chief Medical Officer or Medical Director, specialist recognition in Sport and Exercise Medicine, and expertise in medical and clinical governance will be considered added advantages.

"The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) invites applications for the position of Head – Sports Science and Medicine at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE), Bengaluru."

"The successful candidate will provide strategic and operational leadership to BCCI’s Sports Science and Medicine services across its elite cricket and CoE programmes. The role will also involve line management of the Head of Physiotherapy (CoE), Team India Head of Physiotherapy, Head S&C (CoE) and Team India S&C, while working closely with National and CoE coaches, Cricket Education and other performance specialists to deliver integrated support programmes for Indian players."

"The position will have a key focus on player welfare, injury prevention and rehabilitation, physical development, research, innovation and the adoption of relevant technologies and services," read the statement by BCCI.

WHY DID BCCI DELAY THE APPOINTMENT FOR A LONG TIME?

BCCI's decision to delay the appointment for such a long time was down to them waiting for the right appointment. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said that the position wasn't holding up any of the activities at CoE.

“The vacant position of the head of the sports science is not a deterrent to our activities in CoE,” Saikia said. “The proper qualified person should be positioned (for that role), not anyone just having the qualification is fit for that.”

The interested candidates will have to submit their applications by 5 pm on September 30. The new Sports Science and Medicine head will directly report to the Head Of Cricket at CoE, VVS Laxman.

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