Just before the beginning of India's journey in the 2025-2027 ICC World Test Championship, Team India has got a new strength and conditioning coach, who formerly worked with the Punjab Kings.

After the IPL 2025 completion, Indian cricket is set to begin its international cricket journey in the new season. Just before the beginning of the five-match away Test series against the hosts England, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has brought South African Adrian Le Roux as the new strength and conditioning coach. He has replaced Soham Desai.

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Former South African coaching staff Adrian Le Roux worked with PBKS and KKR

Adrian was the strength and conditioning coach for the Punjab Kings for the last six years, starting from the IPL 2020 season. He was one of the key coaching staff members of the franchise in the IPL 2025 season, where they finished as the runners-up, while finishing the league stage as the points table topper. 

On his social media post on Thursday (June 5), Adrian revealed his journey ending with PBKS and a new journey beginning with the Indian men's national cricket team. 

The former South African men's national cricket team's strength and conditioning coach, Adrian Le Roux, also worked for the IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders between 2008 and 2019. 

Adrian Le Roux previously worked with Team India

Meanwhile, it isn't the first time Adrian Le Roux has worked with the Indian men's national cricket team. After initially working with them during the India tour of South Africa 2001-02, Adrian completed a one-year contract with Team India in the physical trainer role of the team. Under his tenure, Indian cricketers' fitness improved remarkably, while he was a key coaching staff member during India's famous NatWest Tri-Series 2002 trophy victory in England. Later, Adrian left the Indian cricket team to join the Proteas, where he worked from June 2003 to August 2007. 

In a major shake-up following India’s disappointing performance in the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) and concerns over internal team leaks, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has taken strict action by reshuffling key personnel in the coaching staff. The move reflects the board’s growing frustration with both on-field results and off-field controversies affecting the team’s environment.

Assistant coach Abhishek Nayar is expected to be removed from his role, while fielding coach T. Dilip and strength and conditioning coach Soham Desai have officially been relieved of their duties. Both had completed over three years in their positions, and their contracts have now been discontinued. The decision follows a pattern of underperformance and rising concerns within the Indian camp.

The BCCI was particularly disturbed by a series of “dressing room leaks” during the Australia series, prompting a closer review of team operations. These issues, combined with India's inability to clinch the high-profile Test series, have led to a demand for structural changes aimed at restoring discipline and performance within the squad.

🚨 BCCI CHANGE COACHING STAFF. 🚨

- The BCCI set to remove Abhishek Nayar from the coaching duties. (Abhishek Tripathi). pic.twitter.com/qqlqrB77i5

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 17, 2025

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New Faces Expected in Coaching Line-Up

To begin the overhaul, Adrian Le Roux is set to join the Indian team as the new strength and conditioning coach. The South African trainer is well-regarded for his past stints in international cricket and is expected to bring a fresh approach to fitness and preparation. The board is also likely to appoint new faces for fielding and assistant coaching roles in the coming weeks as part of a larger rebuild heading into future tours and tournaments.

These changes underline BCCI’s commitment to accountability and its renewed focus on building a winning culture in the dressing room.