Luke Ronchi, the New Zealand batting coach, will be leaving the New Zealand coaching setup after the home series against India this year. This is what the NZC has announced officially. Ronchi will leave the Black Caps ahead of taking charge of Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League (BBL).

India's tour of New Zealand will take place in October and will feature five T20 International games, five One Day International matches, and two Test matches. This will be the last stint for Ronchi with the national side before starting a new innings in the franchise league cricket.

Since 2019, when Ronchi joined the team, he has done a great deal of work for the team in the last few years.

Following retiring from domestic cricket in 2017, Ronchi became a coach and was involved with the New Zealand team before the 2019 ODI World Cup. He was the batting coach and assistant coach and also acted as interim head coach on New Zealand tours to India and Bangladesh in 2023.

During his stint with the Black Caps, New Zealand recorded some noteworthy results. New Zealand won its maiden WTC title by beating India in the inaugural ICC World Test Championship final in 2021.

The Black Caps also gained another milestone this year by winning a 3-0 Test series against India at home in 2024. They subsequently defeated India 2-1 in another ODI series, and then achieved a scintillating 2-1 Test series win against England at home in June.

His work away from the central group, especially with the batting group, gained him much respect in New Zealand cricket.

Also Read | Ashes-Winning Former Australia Coach Leads Race to Replace Brendon McCullum as England's Test Coach

As soon as the India series comes to an end, Luke Ronchi will join the BBL franchise Melbourne Renegades as their head coach for the upcoming season.

The experienced former wicket-keeper batter is no stranger to franchise cricket already. He is currently the head coach of Islamabad United in the PSL, having successfully led the team to franchise glory.

Ronchi also sport a unique record in international cricket. He is the only cricketer so far to have played both Australia and New Zealand.

Having experience as an international player along with coaching in international and franchise cricket for many years, the franchise considered him to be a good option.

Now, New Zealand will hunt for a new batting coach, with Ronchi's last task with the Black Caps to be the much-awaited home series against India, before he embarks on his coaching career Down Under.