Abhishek Nayar was removed as India assistant coach as BCCI overhauled India support staff.
Abhishek Nayar is said to have joined the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the middle of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL), just days after his brief stint as an assistant coach with the Indian cricket team ended abruptly.
Nayar formerly worked as an assistant coach for KKR, where he mentored Gautam Gambhir and helped the team win the IPL 2024. He was later employed by the BCCI for the Indian squad, but his contract was terminated following a review of India's recent Test series losses to New Zealand and Australia.
India's batting received widespread criticism after winning only one Test in eight matches in these two series, with Nayar bearing the brunt of the blame.
Now, Times of India has reported that Nayar has joined the KKR dressing room again and might be on the three-time champions' bench for their next game against the Gujarat Titans, led by Shubman Gill, at Eden Gardens on Monday.
There has been no official confirmation from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) or KKR on Nayar's appointment. Although there is a widespread assumption that he has been fired, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has not issued an official confirmation.
When contacted by the Times of India, Saikia said, "I will give you a clear picture and details in the next one or two days."
Nayar is highly valued by the KKR organization, and he commands a lot of respect in the locker room. Although the captain has changed this season, it is expected that the coach-captain combination of Chandrakant Pandit and Ajinkya Rahane will welcome Nayar with welcoming arms.
However, Nayar's mid-season addition to the KKR squad raises numerous problems. Shouldn't he go through a cooling-off period? Why is he permitted to join a franchise just a week after quitting Team India?
With Nayar gone, who was added to Gautam Gambhir's support staff on Rohit Sharma's advice, another issue arises: is the 38-year-old a lock for the arduous five-match series in England?
It is still unclear whether Rohit will travel to England or if his body can withstand a five-match Test series immediately following the IPL. However, the Indian skipper has publicly expressed his wish to lead India and has even devised a plan.
(Times of India report)