Nick Webb is the favourite to replace Shankar Basu as India’s next strength and conditioning coach after the New Zealander emerged as the top choice of BCCI’s senior selection committee.

Webb is currently serving as the strength and conditioning coach of the New Zealand women’s cricket team while he has also held similar positions with ruby teams such as North Harbour and Vodafone Warriors.

According to a report by CricketNext, Webb emerged as the preferred choice of the committee after the five shortlisted candidates for the job were put through a theoretical and practical assessment at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru on Sunday.

England women’s rugby strength and conditioning coach Luke Woodhouse was the second preference of the committee while former Delhi Daredevils fitness coach Rajnikanth Sivagnanam was the third choice.

The panel has forwarded their recommendations to BCCI chief executive Rahul Johri who will make the final appointment.

India’s strength and conditioning coach role is lying vacant with Shankar Basu opting not to extend his stay with the team after a four-year tenure. India recently retained Ravi Shastri as the head coach on a new two-year contract until the 2021 T20 World Cup.

Meanwhile, the appointments for the rest of the support staff including the batting, bowling and fielding coaches are also expected to be made soon.