New Zealand batting coach Luke Ronchi will step down from his role after the home series against India later this year. Ronchi has accepted the position of head coach of the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League (BBL). He will continue working with the Black Caps until the India series ends before starting his new job in Australia.
Ronchi became New Zealand’s full-time batting coach in 2020, replacing Peter Fulton. During his six-year stint with the national team, he played a key role in one of the most successful periods in New Zealand cricket. Under the coaching group, the Black Caps won the ICC World Test Championship in 2021, reached the T20 World Cup finals in 2021 and 2026, and also finished runners-up in the 2025 Champions Trophy.
The former Australia and New Zealand international also helped the team achieve several memorable bilateral series victories. New Zealand secured a historic 3-0 Test series win in India, won ODI series in India in 2024 and 2026, and recently defeated England in a Test series. Ronchi was widely praised for improving the team’s batting standards and helping players perform consistently in different conditions.
New Zealand Test captain Tom Latham paid tribute to Ronchi, saying the coach had a huge impact on both the team’s culture and the batting group. “He’s such a valued member of this group. It’s disappointing to be losing a guy like Ronchs. He understands the environment and culture of this team and has been a huge driver of that,” Latham said.
Latham also praised Ronchi’s dedication to player development. “Everyone’s game has gone from strength to strength under his guidance. He’s always worked incredibly hard for the team, and that effort shows on the field. We’ll miss him, but we wish him all the very best for what’s coming next,” the New Zealand skipper added.
Reflecting on his journey, Ronchi described coaching the national team as one of the highlights of his career. “Coming back to the national setup has been a dream come true for me. I’m immensely grateful to my fellow coaches and the players for giving me the opportunity to work alongside them over the past six years,” Ronchi said.
The 44-year-old said he was proud of what the team had achieved during his tenure. “My goal was always to help this team and the batters perform at the highest level. Looking back, there have been many memorable moments that I’ll always cherish. I’ll be following the team closely and wish everyone all the very best for the future,” he added. New Zealand Cricket confirmed that Ronchi’s replacement will be announced at a later date.
Meanwhile, Ronchi’s appointment has triggered another coaching change in the Big Bash League. Cameron White has left the Melbourne Renegades to become the new head coach of the Melbourne Stars on a three-year deal. He replaces Peter Moores, who will remain with the Stars as the director of coaching for another season, completing a major reshuffle in Melbourne’s BBL coaching setup.