The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has taken another major step toward strengthening India’s cricket pipeline by involving some of the country’s most experienced former players in the development of emerging talent. In a significant initiative, former India stars Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh have been invited to conduct specialised training camps at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.

The camps will focus on a group of “targeted players,” a list prepared by the BCCI that includes promising cricketers who have impressed in domestic competitions, age-group tournaments, and India A matches. Many of these players are already on the radar of the national selectors and are seen as potential future members of the senior Indian team.

Former left-arm pacer Zaheer Khan has already begun his work at the CoE, leading a five-day camp for young fast bowlers. The program is designed to help bowlers who are either close to making their international debut or are already on the fringes of the Indian squad. The initiative is being coordinated by VVS Laxman, who currently serves as the Head of Cricket at the Centre of Excellence.

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VVS Laxman has reportedly reached out to several former teammates to share their expertise with the next generation. In addition to Zaheer and Harbhajan, legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble has also been approached to conduct a specialised camp for wrist spinners. Harbhajan Singh, meanwhile, is working on finalising the dates for a four-to-five-day camp focused specifically on off-spinners.

The BCCI CoE had the privilege of extending the wisdom of one of the best fast bowlers Mr. Zaheer Khan to the pacers from the high performance monitoring group. 🙌

With this camp laying emphasis on red ball bowling, these players worked closely with the stalwart on technical… pic.twitter.com/6NuPfFhqvK

— BCCI (@BCCI) March 2, 2026

The idea behind these camps is straightforward but valuable — allowing players who have represented India at the highest level to pass on their knowledge, experience, and tactical insights to upcoming cricketers. With hundreds of international matches between them, these legends bring a wealth of understanding about handling pressure and preparing for elite competition.

The camps are expected to be held before the start of the Indian Premier League season, as several of the targeted players will soon join their respective IPL franchises.

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Meanwhile, the CoE is also looking to strengthen its coaching structure. Former India pacers VRV Singh and Srinath Aravind are among the candidates who have applied for the permanent pace-bowling coach role following the departure of Troy Cooley. The spin department at the CoE is currently overseen by former India spinner Sunil Joshi.