Before firing assistant coach Abhishek Nayar, who had been a crucial member of the team’s support staff for the previous eight months, the top cricket regulatory body, the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India), allegedly failed to notify Rohit Sharma, the captain of India in Test and One-Day International matches.
Under head coach Gautam Gambhir, Nayar was a member of a coaching unit before being taken into the Indian setup last year with Rohit’s approval. The two were then included in the coaching staff of the Indian side after playing significant roles in the Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) 2024 IPL championship victory. After a 12-year wait, India won the ICC Champions Trophy, and their efforts were widely praised.
However, following India’s 1-3 loss in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the 41-year-old’s dismissal was taken into consideration. Action against the coaching staff was apparently postponed because of the Champions Trophy, even though a review meeting was held after the series.
The BCCI decided to bench Nayar during the current IPL season, while the Men in Blue were not playing any international matches. Despite being contacted when Abhishek Nayar was appointed, Rohit was reportedly kept in the dark about his dismissal, according to a report by Dainik Jagran. In addition, he was fired due to questions about his contributions and worries that conversations in the dressing room might be leaked to the public.
“With Rohit’s approval, Abhishek joined the Indian team’s support staff; however, Rohit was not notified prior to his removal. “If Nayar was so dependable, why did the management appoint Sitanshu Kotak as the batting coach for the England series in January?” enquired a team management member. According to the story, even Rohit had consented to include Kotak.
Rohit appreciates Abhishek Nayar for his support as he rejoins the KKR coaching setup.
But for the rest of the IPL 2025 season, Abhishek Nayar has returned to the Kolkata team as an assistant coach. In the meantime, Rohit posted a photo to express gratitude to Nayar for his support throughout his difficult period, writing, “Thank you, Abhishek Nayar!” after leading the Mumbai Indians to a nine-wicket victory against fierce rivals Chennai Super Kings with an undefeated 76 off 45 balls.
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