BCCI reopens search for sports science, medicine head

The BCCI on Friday invited applications for Head of Sports Science and Medicine at its Centre of Excellence after being unable to fill the key position that has been vacant since the resignation of Nitin Patel in March 2025.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and COE head VVS Laxman have publicly spoken about the challenges in filling the vacancy.

The application deadline is September 30.

Former India physio Andrew Leipus was BCCI’s top choice for the post, but he “backed off” citing family reasons.

“After Nitin left, we did not get anyone who could fill in that position. We had Andrew Leipus, and everything was agreed upon. In fact, (BCCI secretary) Devajit (Saikia) had two or three meetings with him, but suddenly Andrew backed off, citing family reasons,” Laxman had told select media at the BCCI COE last month. COE has been under the scanner of late for injury management of the players.

“We conducted a full-fledged interview process where we had Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala, Dr Ashish Soni, Dr Rohan Khavte and me, and we shortlisted five candidates and number one was an Australian.

“After selecting him, suddenly he also backed out, saying he cannot move to Bangalore and it was one of the important conditions,” Laxman had said. “It is a full-time job, and it is not a part-time one. It is day-to-day monitoring. That professional did not join. Another professional was the head of sports science at the All Blacks (New Zealand rugby team), and we engaged with him, and he almost agreed, but at the last moment he also backed off,” said the former India batter.

The successful candidate will provide strategic and operational leadership to BCCI’s Sports Science and Medicine services across its elite cricket and CoE programmes, said the BCCI in a release. “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,” the BCCI statement added.

The successful candidate will report to Laxman at COE in Bengaluru.