After announcing his departure, Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj wrote an emotional letter.
Soham Desai, India’s strength and conditioning coach, officially announced his departure from the national squad on Saturday, May 31. Desai’s retirement follows a considerable reshuffling of the support personnel following India’s disappointing performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.
Desai, a key figure in Indian cricket’s fitness revolution, arrived during Ravi Shastri’s term as head coach. Desai had various spells, including those with Rahul Dravid and, briefly, Gautam Gambhir. His steady presence since 2021 has provided consistency and great performance to the team’s physical conditioning section. At the same time, Siraj established himself as a regular three-format player. In his goodbye Instagram post, Desai reflected on his time with the squad and thanked them for the opportunity to serve the country.
“What an honour and privilege it’s been to serve Indian Cricket over the years. From day one, the vision was crystal clear — break mental barriers, chase global excellence, stay true to my values, never fear failure. Keep showing up, no matter what. Forever grateful to @ravishastriofficial and @virat.kohli for backing a 29-year-old coming onto the world stage with a dream. To #RahulDravid and @rohitsharma45 — What can I say? Your faith, support, and trust have shaped every step of this journey. Can’t thank you guys enough. A big shoutout to the physios, sports therapists, operations team, and team doc — I could only do what I did because of your relentless support. Thank you for always being there,” he wrote.
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Adrian le Roux front-runner for the role
Meanwhile, fast bowler Mohammed Siraj’s post spoke about the duo’s relationship. He mentioned that Desai was more than a coach to the pacer and looked up to him as his brother and mentor. Notably, Desai played an important role in keeping Siraj fit and focused, especially during a period when he became an all-format player for India.
“It’s never easy to say goodbye to someone who’s been more than a coach, who’s been a guide, a mentor, a brother. This is not the end but see you later. Your impact will stay with me forever. Your absence will be felt in the dressing room, in the gym, and in every sprint we run,” he said.
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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has yet to announce his replacement, although according to reports, Adrian le Roux, formerly associated with Team India and currently with Punjab Kings, is among the frontrunners to take up the role and might join the team for the upcoming England series.
