BCCI Ends Abhishek Nayar’s Coaching Stint

Less than a year after his July last year appointment, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has ended Abhishek Nayar’s contract as assistant coach of the Indian men’s national team.

Following India’s underwhelming performance in Test cricket towards the close of the previous year, Nayar becomes the first significant victim of the BCCI’s thorough review.

Along with a 3-1 series loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, this downturn includes a 3-0 whitewash at home against New Zealand.

Following the Australian tour, the BCCI called a high-level review conference in Mumbai. Attending were Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma, chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar, head coach Gautam Gambhir, and BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia.

Former Mumbai allrounder and India international with three ODI caps, Nayar was personally chosen by Gambhir for the assistant coach post.

Previously collaborating at Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the pair guided the team to their first in a decade third IPL victory in 2024 – their first overall.

Although Gambhir received a three-year contract spanning to the ODI World Cup in 2027, the details of Nayar’s employment were never formally revealed.

Though Nayar lacked prior coaching expertise in India’s domestic circuit, he was well-known for his individualised instruction with several top Indian cricketers like Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer, and Angkrish Raghuvanshi.

“Big shoutout to Abhishek Nayar,” KL Rahul said, noting Nayar’s part in his recent white-ball triumph. Ever since he joined the Indian squad, I have worked closely with him.

Beginning in January, rumours over Nayar’s future centred on former Saurashtra batsman Sitanshu Kotak’s appointment as batting coach ahead of the white-ball home series against England.

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