Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to part ways with assistant coach Abhishek Nayar and fielding coach T Dilip after India’s lackluster performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against Australia.
As per BCCI sources cited by ANI, assistant batting coach Abhishek Nayar, fielding coach T Dilip, and strength and conditioning coach Soham Desai have been dismissed following India’s poor performance in the BGT series and alleged dressing room leaks.
India suffered a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, which also cost them the chance to qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final at Lord’s.
Skipper Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli were criticized for their underwhelming performances in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the overall disappointing 2024/25 Test cricket season.
Sharma scored only 31 runs in three matches and five innings, at an average of 6.20, while Kohli managed just 190 runs in five matches and nine innings, at an average of 23.75, despite a century. Kohli particularly struggled with the outside-off-stump trap, being dismissed four times by pacer Scott Boland during the series.
India began the series with a historic win in Perth but failed to maintain their momentum, ultimately losing the series 3-1.
Abhishek Nayar’s role came under scrutiny, as the Board expressed dissatisfaction with what was perceived as a ‘Kolkata Knight Riders’ influence within the team management. Former Indian all-rounder Nayar and former Netherlands star Ryan Ten Doeschate had joined Team India’s support staff as assistant coaches during the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka. Nayar and Doeschate were also assistant coaches at KKR, where they worked with Gautam Gambhir.
In January, the BCCI had issued strict guidelines for the Senior Men’s Cricket Team to improve discipline, streamline logistics, and foster team unity during both domestic and international tours.
The new guidelines covered aspects such as travel, baggage limits, family visits, and team dynamics. Players are now required to travel with the team for all matches and practice sessions. Separate travel arrangements for players and their families are discouraged, aiming to maintain discipline and team cohesion. Any exceptions to this policy must be pre-approved by the head coach and the chairman of the selection committee.
(ANI)
