Anil Kumble leads two-day spin masterclass at BCCI Centre of Excellence, Bengaluru
Synopsis
Anil Kumble — India's greatest wicket-taker with 619 Test scalps — walked into the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru to personally mentor the country's next generation of spinners. It is the latest in a series of legend-led interventions at the CoE, signalling a deliberate BCCI strategy to fast-track spin talent at a pivotal moment for Indian cricket.
Key Takeaways
Anil Kumble conducted a two-day masterclass for targeted and emerging spinners at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru .
Kumble is India's all-time leading wicket-taker in international cricket with 619 Test wickets and 337 ODI scalps .
Former India spinner Sunil Joshi , the CoE's dedicated spin-bowling coach, was also present during the sessions.
Earlier this year, Zaheer Khan (three-day pace camp) and Harbhajan Singh (four-day off-spin camp, 23–26 March) also mentored players at the CoE.
The CoE's Head of Sports Science and Medicine post has been vacant since Nitin Patel's resignation in March 2025 ; applications close 30 September .
Legendary leg-spinner and former India captain Anil Kumble recently conducted a two-day masterclass for targeted and emerging spinners at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. The specialised session was designed to help the country's next generation of spinners refine their craft under the guidance of India's all-time highest wicket-taker in international cricket, who claimed 619 Test wickets and 337 ODI scalps across his storied career.
What the Masterclass Covered
According to a post on the BCCI's official X handle, the attendees gained the rare opportunity to hear directly from Kumble on 'what it takes to succeed at the Elite Level,' with sessions also focused on the finer technical aspects of spin bowling. The BCCI described Kumble as 'one of India's biggest match-winners with the ball,' underscoring the weight this intervention carries for the participants' development pathways.
Also present during the camp was former India left-arm spinner Sunil Joshi, who serves as the dedicated spin-bowling coach at the high-performance facility. Joshi is additionally part of the Indian men's squad set to feature in the upcoming Asian Games men's T20 cricket event in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
A Growing Roster of Legends at the CoE
The Kumble masterclass is the latest in a series of elite coaching interventions at the CoE. Earlier this year, former India left-arm pacer Zaheer Khan ran a specialised three-day red-ball camp for pacers from the India A and under-19 setups. Former off-spinner Harbhajan Singh also conducted a four-day camp for off-spinners from 23–26 March, with Tanush Kotian, Himanshu Singh, and Saransh Jain among the attendees. This pattern of deploying India's legendary match-winners as short-term mentors reflects a deliberate BCCI strategy to accelerate elite talent development.
Key Vacancy Still Unfilled at the CoE
Meanwhile, the CoE continues to grapple with a critical operational gap: the post of Head of Sports Science and Medicine has remained vacant since Nitin Patel's resignation in March 2025. CoE head VVS Laxman and BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia have previously acknowledged the difficulty in identifying a suitable candidate for the role.
The successful appointee will provide strategic and operational leadership across BCCI's Sports Science and Medicine services for elite cricket and CoE programmes, working closely with the heads of physiotherapy, strength and conditioning, national coaches, and performance specialists. Player welfare, injury prevention, rehabilitation, research, and technology adoption are listed as core responsibilities. The selected candidate will be based in Bengaluru and report directly to Laxman. The application deadline is 30 September.
What This Means for Indian Cricket
India's spin pipeline has historically been one of its greatest competitive advantages in Test cricket. By bringing Kumble — whose 619 Test wickets place him fourth on the all-time global list — into direct contact with emerging talent, the BCCI is investing in continuity of craft at a time when the post-Ashwin transition in the spin department draws increasing scrutiny. The CoE's ongoing vacancy in sports science, however, remains a structural risk to the facility's broader performance mission.
Point of View
But the jury is out on long-term impact without a structured follow-through programme. Kumble's two days of wisdom cannot substitute for a year-round coaching architecture, and the still-vacant Head of Sports Science role points to a facility that remains work-in-progress at the foundational level. India's spin transition post-Ashwin is a live concern, and while these camps are a positive signal, they risk becoming headline gestures unless embedded in a coherent pathway that tracks participant outcomes. The CoE was conceived as a world-class performance hub; the vacancy that has persisted for over a year now quietly undermines that ambition.
NationPress
24 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Anil Kumble's masterclass at the BCCI Centre of Excellence involve?
Anil Kumble conducted a two-day masterclass for targeted and emerging spinners at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, covering what it takes to succeed at the elite level and working on the finer technical aspects of spin bowling. The sessions were also attended by CoE spin-bowling coach Sunil Joshi.
Who is Anil Kumble and why does his involvement matter?
Anil Kumble is a former India captain and legendary leg-spinner who is India's all-time highest wicket-taker in international cricket, with 619 Test wickets and 337 ODI scalps. His direct mentorship carries significant weight for emerging spinners navigating the path to senior cricket.
Which other cricket legends have conducted camps at the BCCI CoE?
Former India pacer Zaheer Khan ran a three-day red-ball camp for pacers from the India A and under-19 setups earlier this year. Former off-spinner Harbhajan Singh also conducted a four-day off-spin camp from 23–26 March, with Tanush Kotian, Himanshu Singh, and Saransh Jain among the participants.
What is the vacancy at the BCCI Centre of Excellence?
The post of Head of Sports Science and Medicine at the BCCI CoE has been vacant since Nitin Patel's resignation in March 2025. The role covers player welfare, injury prevention, rehabilitation, and research, with the application deadline set for 30 September.
Who oversees the BCCI Centre of Excellence?
The BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru is headed by former India batter VVS Laxman. The successful candidate for the vacant sports science role will report directly to Laxman.
