BCCI hit with multiple withdrawals in bid to secure next Head of Sports Science and Medicine

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been hit with multiple withdrawals in its bid to rope in the next Head of Sports Science and Medicine (SSM). The position has been vacant since March 2025, following the exit of Nitin Patel, who headed the department previously.

The head of BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE), VVS Laxman, revealed that Andrew Leipus, who was Team India's physiotherapist between 1999 and 2005, initially agreed to the role before backing off, citing family reasons.

"Unfortunately, after Nitin left as the head of Sports Science, we didn’t get anyone to fill in those shoes,” Laxman said in a media interaction at the CoE on Sunday. "We had Andrew Leipus: everything was agreed upon, Devajit (Saikia, BCCI secretary) had two-three meetings, and at the last minute, Andrew backed off citing family reasons."

Laxman said that the role (full-time) demands the person in charge to shift base to Bengaluru, but multiple withdrawals have made it a task for the recruiters. He also revealed the board was tantalisingly close to acquiring the services of the head of Sports Science of the New Zealand rugby team, commonly known as the All Blacks, before he pulled out at the last moment.

“Out of (five), the No.1 candidate was Australian. I don’t want to name him, but after being selected, he suddenly backed out, saying he can’t move to Bengaluru.

“The second and third candidates are already working at the COE,” Laxman added. “Now, it is our responsibility to upskill them, while looking to identify someone of that stature and experience and knowledge. He almost agreed and at the last moment, backed out (too)”.

Injury management and getting players fit and raring to go has become a mega challenge for the BCCI as a governing body, with the amount of cricket being played these days. Several star players are currently out of action with injuries, and India's Test No. 3 Sai Sudharsan has joined the unenviable list.