New Zealand cricket is set to witness a major coaching change after its upcoming series against India later this year. The team’s batting coach Luke Ronchi will step away from his role with the national side and begin a new chapter as the head coach of an Australian Big Bash League (BBL) franchise.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has officially confirmed that Ronchi will leave the national setup after the India tour, which will feature five T20 internationals, five ODIs and two Test matches in October.

Ronchi Takes Up New Challenge in BBL

After completing his coaching duties with New Zealand, Luke Ronchi will join the Melbourne Renegades as head coach for the Big Bash League. The former international cricketer moved into coaching soon after retiring from professional cricket in 2017.

Ronchi has been part of New Zealand’s coaching staff since the 2019 ODI World Cup final, working as an assistant coach and batting coach. He has also taken charge as an interim head coach during New Zealand’s tours of India and Bangladesh in 2023.

A Successful Coaching Journey With New Zealand

Ronchi’s time with the New Zealand team has been marked by several memorable achievements. During his tenure, the Black Caps created history by defeating India in the final of the inaugural ICC World Test Championship in 2021.

New Zealand also produced a remarkable home Test performance in 2024 by completing a historic 3-0 series victory against India. The team later defeated India 2-1 in an ODI series in January and secured a 2-1 Test series win over England at home in June.

A Respected Name in T20 Cricket

Apart from his role with New Zealand, Ronchi is already a familiar face in franchise cricket. He serves as the head coach of Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), where he has gained valuable experience in the T20 format.

Ronchi also holds a unique place in cricket history as the only player to have represented both Australia and New Zealand at the international level.

The Melbourne Renegades have chosen Ronchi for his international experience, coaching ability and deep understanding of T20 cricket, as the franchise looks to strengthen its campaign in the BBL.