The Indian men's cricket team is set to welcome a familiar face back into its support staff. Adrian Le Roux will take over as the team’s new strength and conditioning coach.
This development comes just ahead of India’s upcoming five-match Test series against England, which begins on June 20 at the Headingley in Leeds.
Le Roux has previously worked with Team India, and many in the cricketing circle remember his earlier stint from 2002 to 2003. He returns now after over two decades to replace Soham Desai who was with Team India in the same role for nearly eight years.
Who is Adrian Le Roux?
Adrian Le Roux is no stranger to Indian cricket fans. Originally from South Africa, he is a trained sports scientist who has worked with some of the biggest names in world cricket. After his first term with the Indian team in the early 2000s, he returned to South Africa and took up roles with their national men’s side from June 2003 to August 2007.
In the Indian Premier League (IPL), Le Roux spent over a decade with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). He joined the franchise in its early days and played an important part in their title-winning campaigns in 2012 and 2014.
He later moved to Punjab Kings (PBKS), where he continued to work closely with players for six years, helping them stay fit through long and demanding seasons. In his last year with PBKS in 2025, the team played their first final since 2014 but could not win the title and lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
He recently bid adieu to Punjab Kings with a long Instagram post and also confirmed his appointment as the new strength and conditioning coach of Team India.
"And with that a 6-year journey with the @punjabkingsipl comes to an end. Went all the way to the final this season. Fell just short, and yes that really hurt. But I’m incredibly proud of the team, the way we prepared, the way we played and how we fought right to the end. What a journey it’s been," le Roux wrote on Instagram.
"To the team, owners, management, coaches, players and my colleagues in the sport science and medical team a huge thank you! In the fast-moving world of professional sport it’s easy to get caught up in the results. But every now and then you pause and realise that while it’s about performance and pressure it’s also about people, shared moments and friendships that will last a lifetime," he added.
"As I step into a new role with Indian team, I’ll carry these memories with me. I’ve had the privilege to work with some incredible people and some of the most talented cricketers in the game. Punjab Kings are in a good place and in good hands. That makes me happy. Until we meet again."
England Awaits: Adrian Le Roux’s First Challenge
Le Roux’s first task in his second innings with Team India will be the five-match Test series against England, starting June 20. The tour is expected to be physically demanding as it will run for over 40 days.
The players will need to be at their peak in terms of fitness, and that’s where Le Roux’s role becomes vital.
Also read: Jasprit Bumrah Will Not Play All Five Tests in England, Confirms India Head Coach Gautam Gambhir
