Bengal retain Laxmi Ratan Shukla as head coach

Cricket Association of Bengal has retained Laxmi Ratan Shukla as the head coach of the state Ranji Trophy team and roped in former Maharashtra batter Surendra Bhave as his deputy for the 2026-27 domestic season.

The CAB had invited applications for a broader set of coaching roles on April 24, including that of the head coach, fuelling talks that the association might look beyond Shukla, who has been coaching Bengal since 2022.

“To ensure the highest standards of excellence and transparency, an independent screening panel comprising distinguished former international and first-class cricketers — Arun Lal, Devang Gandhi and Kalyan Choudhury — was to screen and shortlist the candidates,” the CAB said in a statement.

“The evaluation was conducted strictly independently through comprehensive interviews, ensuring a fair, merit-based and unbiased selection process,” the CAB added.

Shukla had guided Bengal to a Ranji Trophy final (2022-23) and two semifinals during his tenure.

Bhave, who has scored 7971 for Maharashtra from 97 first-class matches at an average of 58.18, has extensive experience as a coach in the domestic circuit and was also a national selector during the 2008-10 period.

Bhave will also wear the hat of a batting consultant during his season-long stint.

Former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary will begin his foray into coaching as he has been appointed as the coach of Bengal U19 side. Dattatreya Mukherjee will be his deputy.

Former India wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha will continue in his role as U23 head coach with Sabir Ali assisting him.

Anustup Majumdar, a Bengal stalwart who played 103 first-class matches and scored 5962 runs at an average of 41.40, ended his 22-year-long domestic career to take up the state U16 head coach’s role.

The 42-year-old Majumdar had a middling 2025-26 Ranji season, scoring 393 runs from nine matches, averaging 32.75.

Gautam Shome (Jr) will be the assistant coach in this age category.