Former India off-spinner Nooshin Al Khadeer has been named the head coach of the Vidarbha women’s cricket team for the upcoming domestic season, replacing Priyanka Acharya, who stepped away from the role. The appointment, confirmed by Vidarbha Cricket Association CEO Farokh Dastoor, signals the association’s commitment to strengthening its women’s cricket structure with experienced leadership.
Nooshin, who represented India from 2002 to 2012, is widely regarded as one of the country’s finest spin bowlers. She took 100 wickets in ODIs and reached the top of the ICC bowling rankings in 2003. After retiring from international cricket, she seamlessly transitioned into coaching and quickly built a reputation as one of the most respected mentors in the women’s game.
Her coaching resume is decorated with significant achievements. She famously guided the India Under-19 women’s team to victory in the inaugural U-19 T20 World Cup, led Railways to multiple domestic titles, and coached the Supernovas to the Women’s T20 Challenge championship in 2022. Her ability to combine tactical sharpness with player-centric development has made her a sought-after figure in Indian cricket circles.
Nooshin will join Vidarbha after fulfilling her current assignment with the India A women’s team on their tour to Australia. Her arrival is expected to bring a fresh approach, focusing on discipline, skill enhancement, and game awareness—qualities that could significantly boost Vidarbha’s competitive edge in the domestic circuit.
Players who have worked under Nooshin often praise her for her patience, deep understanding of individual strengths, and ability to create a positive yet demanding environment. She is known to invest time in refining technical skills while also helping players adapt mentally to the pressures of high-level competition.
For Vidarbha, which has been steadily building its women’s program, this is a strategic move aimed at producing consistent performances and nurturing talent capable of progressing to higher levels, including state and national representation. With her proven record of success at various levels of the game, Nooshin’s tenure is anticipated to inspire young cricketers in the region and elevate the team’s overall performance.
The upcoming season will serve as a crucial test, both for Nooshin’s ability to mould a relatively young squad and for Vidarbha’s ambitions to establish itself as a stronger force in Indian women’s domestic cricket. If her past achievements are any indicator, Vidarbha could be entering one of its most promising phases yet under her guidance.