Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Thursday announced Malolan Rangarajan as head coach of its women’s team ahead of the 2026 Women’s Premier League season.

Already serving as an assistant coach over the past two seasons, Rangarajan takes over from Luke Williams, who led the side to a historic title-winning campaign in 2024.

“I’m very excited and honoured to be appointed head coach of the women’s team. I want to acknowledge Luke’s contribution and impact, which led to RCB’s title win in 2024. The upcoming mega auction presents an exciting challenge, giving us the chance to shape the next phase of the squad while having a strong core to consider for retentions,” Rangarajan said about his appointment.

A former cricketer who represented Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand in domestic cricket, Rangarajan has also played an important role in the development of the RCB men’s team.

“Over the past three years, I’ve developed a great working relationship with Smriti, as well as the coaching and support staff, and I look forward to continuing that partnership to deliver the success that RCB fans deserve,” he added.

Sharing her thoughts on the appointment, RCB captain Smriti Mandhana said: “I want to congratulate Malolan Rangarajan on his appointment. I share a great rapport with him and I’ve enjoyed our cricketing discussions. He’s been a positive influence on the girls over the last three years and I’m confident of working well together.”

Published on Nov 06, 2025