Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have appointed new women’s team head coach Malolan Rangarajan ahead of WPL 2026. With each season getting tougher in the Women’s Premier League, the move by RCB is intended to strengthen leadership and tactical depth ahead of the mega auction.
Malolan Rangarajan, RCB Women’s Head Coach
Newly appointed RCB women’s head coach Malolan Rangarajan is a former Tamil Nadu cricketer who has worked closely with the franchise in recent years as head of scouting and strategy.
His cricketing background and managing experience make him the ideal choice to lead the RCB women’s squad going into WPL 2026.
Rangarajan is a right-arm off-spinner and useful lower-order bat, playing 47 First-Class matches with an average of 25.53, seven fifties, and a highest score of 88. He has taken 113 wickets with the ball at an average of 34.41, with 5 five-wicket performances and his highest bowling of 7/46.
He participated in 23 matches in List A cricket, taking 27 wickets at 4.65 economy, and in 20 T20s, taking 18 wickets at 7.21 economy.
Rangarajan’s Vision as Head Coach
Rangarajan was the Head of Scouting and Strategy at RCB before becoming the coach, and helped to identify young home talents like Kanika Ahuja and Shreyanka Patil. His critical thinking, tactical skills, and eagle eye have seen him emerge as one of the most promising modern coaches in Indian cricket.
As RCB builds a balanced squad for the mega auction, the RCB Women’s Head Coach will play a central role in blending international stars with promising homegrown players.
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Coming up next is the mega auction, which promises to rewrite the rosters of teams; therefore, Rangarajan’s scouting strategy will be a significant advantage. Hence, RCB looks to break its tendency for near-miss seasons and emerge as a consistent contender for the title.
RCB Women’s Recent WPL Record
Season | Finish | Matches | Wins | Losses | Net Run Rate |
2023 | 4th of 5 | 8 | 2 | 6 | -1.137 |
2024 | Champions | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0.321 |
2025 | 4th of 5 | 8 | 3 | 5 | -0.421 |
RCB Women’s head coach intends to implement a formal mentorship program, where senior players, such as Smriti Mandhana and Ellyse Perry, mentor young talents like Richa Ghosh and Shreyanka Patil.
Amit Mishra’s Take
Getting a new RCB Women’s head coach, Malolan Rangarajan, ahead of the WPL 2026 seems overdue but smart. He is familiar with the culture within the franchise, knows how to manage talent, and has been a part of RCB’s growth for many years. This appointment gives RCB Women a strong foundation to finally chase the trophy.
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