Injury Crisis Triggers BCCI Move to Appoint Head of Sports Science and Medicine

BCCI Opens Search for Sports Science and Medicine Head Amid Rising Injury Concerns

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has begun the process of appointing a new Head of Sports Science and Medicine at its Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, amid increasing scrutiny over the injury problems affecting several Indian players.

The Bengaluru-based CoE has faced criticism in recent weeks, particularly over the length of rehabilitation periods, fitness assessment methods and coordination between its sports science team and the national selection committee.

India have been without the services of several important players for extended periods, including Jasprit Bumrah, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Hardik Pandya and Varun Chakravarthy. Their prolonged absences have brought greater attention to the injury management and rehabilitation work being carried out at the CoE.

The post has been vacant since Nitin Patel stepped down in early 2025. Dhananjay Kaushik is currently overseeing the sports science operations at the Bengaluru facility.

What will the new BCCI head be responsible for?

The successful candidate will provide strategic and operational leadership to the BCCI’s Sports Science and Medicine services across its elite cricket and Centre of Excellence programmes.

The primary responsibilities will include player welfare, injury prevention, rehabilitation, wellness, illness management and long-term physical development. The appointee will also be tasked with strengthening systems for injury-risk management and recovery while promoting research, innovation and the adoption of relevant technology.

The new head will oversee departmental planning, budgets, staff development and performance management. The role may also require the individual to represent the BCCI on performance-related matters.

The appointee will have line-management responsibilities for the Head of Physiotherapy (CoE), Team India Head of Physiotherapy, Head of Strength and Conditioning (CoE) and Team India Strength and Conditioning staff.

The BCCI said the individual will work closely with national and CoE coaches, Cricket Education and other performance specialists to provide 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,” the BCCI said in its statement.

Eligibility for the position

Candidates applying for the role must have a master’s degree in Sports Science or a related discipline, while a doctorate will be preferred. They must also have at least five years of strategic leadership experience with multidisciplinary high-performance teams.

Experience in professional or Olympic sport and current professional accreditation or a licence in a relevant Sports Science or Medicine discipline are among the requirements.

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 additional advantages.

Why did BCCI wait to appoint a permanent head?

The BCCI had delayed the appointment while looking for a suitably qualified candidate for the senior position.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia maintained that the vacancy had not affected the functioning of the Centre of Excellence and stressed that the board wanted the right person for the job.

“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.”

Interested candidates have until 5 pm on September 30 to submit their applications.

The successful candidate will report directly to VVS Laxman, Head of Cricket at the BCCI Centre of Excellence.