New Delhi, Nov 9 (IANS) — Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have announced the appointment of former England pacer and 2017 World Cup winner Anya Shrubsole as their assistant coach for the 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL) season.
Shrubsole, who retired from international cricket in 2022 with over 200 wickets across formats, joins the RCB setup for the first time. She will work alongside Malolan Rangarajan, who has been promoted to head coach following Luke Williams’ exit due to his commitments with the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League.
RCB welcomed Shrubsole on X, calling her a “proven champion” and praising her “champion mentality” that aligns with the team’s #PlayBold philosophy. The former England vice-captain, who was the Player of the Match in the 2017 World Cup final, previously served as a player-assistant coach for the Southern Vipers under Charlotte Edwards in England’s domestic circuit.
Her appointment follows RCB’s retention of key players Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Ellyse Perry, and Shreyanka Patil ahead of the WPL 2026 mega auction. With Rs. 8.85 crore already spent on retentions, RCB will enter the auction with Rs. 6.15 crore and one Right-to-Match card.
