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VVS Laxman has reportedly approached three India legends for coaching camps for the bowlers.
(From left) Zaheer Khan, Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh (PTI Photo)
India legends Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan have reportedly been approached by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to conduct specialist training camps on the Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru.
The camps are geared toward a set of “targeted players” which have been identified by the board as potential senior India prospects.
The list has been drawn up based on performances at age-group and first-class level, in addition to appearances for India A and, in some cases, the senior national side.
Zaheer, a left-arm fast bowling great, is already in Bengaluru overseeing a five-day camp for emerging pace bowlers who’re either on the fringes of the senior team or have featured in a limited variety of international matches.
It is known that the Centre of Excellence’s head of cricket, VVS Laxman, has contacted several former teammates about conducting four-to-five-day specialist camps designed to organize the subsequent generation of Indian cricketers.
Alongside Zaheer and Harbhajan, former legendary spinner Kumble has also been approached. Harbhajan is claimed to be working on scheduling a camp for off-spinners, while Kumble, India’s leading wicket-taker across Test and one-day internationals, could hold a camp for wrist spinners.
“Laxman approached Zaheer, Harbhajan and Anil Kumble for specialised camps. Bhajji is attempting to work out the dates for four-five day ‘Off-spinners’ camp’. He’s looking forward to assist the upcoming prospects who’ve done well on the age-group and India A level and work with them,” a BCCI source was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
“This can be a welcome initiative where those that have played greater than 100 Tests for India are sharing their experiences with the subsequent generation,” the source added.
The specialist camps are expected to happen before the beginning of the Indian Premier League season, with most of the chosen players resulting from join their respective franchise squads.
Inviting former internationals to conduct specialist camps on the erstwhile National Cricket Academy dates back to the tenure of former BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya. Up to now, former players akin to Chandu Borde, Erapalli Prasanna and Syed Kirmani have shared their expertise with young cricketers at zonal academy camps.
Meanwhile, former India fast bowlers VRV Singh and Srinath Aravind are amongst those to have applied for the role of pace bowling coach on the Centre of Excellence.
The positions are everlasting staff roles. Each candidates have previously worked at age-group camps and have accomplished the BCCI’s coaching accreditation courses.
Following the departure of England’s Troy Cooley, who has reached the age of 60, the BCCI can also be looking for a brand new head of pace bowling on the Centre of Excellence.
Former India spinner Sunil Joshi currently oversees the spin bowling department.
With PTI Inputs
March 02, 2026, 15:51 IST
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