Abhishek Nayar set to rejoin KKR immediately after getting fired from Team India

Days after his sacking from the Indian team, ex-assistant coach Abhishek Nayar is set to rejoin KKR's support staff for the 2025 IPL season.

Abhishek Nayar set to rejoin KKR immediately after getting fired from Team India

Abhishek Nayar could rejoin KKR for the ongoing IPL season, after being sacked from Team India coaching role. (via India Today)

Ex-Team India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar is expected to rejoin Kolkata Knight Riders’ support staff, for the ongoing IPL season. It comes just days after Nayar was sacked from his role in the Indian national team setup, by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). 

Abhishek Nayar’s contract with the Indian team was terminated prematurely, just eight months after he took charge as the assistant coach. He was the first major casualty of the BCCI’s review of the team’s poor run in red-ball cricket. India suffered two back-to-back series defeats, which included a 0-3 loss against New Zealand at home, followed by a 1-3 defeat to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

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BCCI decided to part ways with the 41-year-old, in the run up to India’s upcoming five-match Test series against England. Alongside Nayar, fielding coach T. Dilip and strength and conditioning trainer Sohan Desai have also been relieved of their duties. A senior BCCI official, possibly secretary Devajit Saikia, had reportedly personally called the three support staff members to inform them about the decision. 

The former India batter, who has made just three ODI appearances, was a part of head coach Gautam Gambhir’s entourage. Following Nayar’s dismissal, he is now expected to make a mid-season return to the KKR coaching setup. He was a part of the Knights backroom staff from 2018 to 2024, and played a crucial role with Gambhir to help the team lift its third IPL title last season, and the first in ten years.

Reports also emerged of the 41-year-old being present at the Eden Gardens, ahead of KKR’s upcoming encounter against Gujarat Titans on 21 April. Abhishek Nayar would definitely be welcomed back by the KKR’s management with open arms, as they rate his values very highly. Moreover, the Nayar was most recently, praised by Indian cricket star KL Rahul, for having helped him improve his batting.

While Nayar has not coached in the domestic circuit, he does have the experience of having worked with several talented players throughout the years, including Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer, Shubman Gill, Dinesh Kartikh and others. He is expected to link up with new KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane and head coach Chandrakant Pandit, two of whom he is quite familiar with. 

Meanwhile, the other members of the KKR coaching staff are mentor Dwayne Bravo, bowling coach Bharat Arun, assistant Ottis Gibson and spin-bowling coach Carl Crowe. However, the news of his return as well as his new role is yet to be confirmed by the IPL franchise. 

Abhishek Nayar’s KKR return in doubt amidst BCCI contractual issues

While rumors have been rife surrounding Abhishek Nayar’s possible return to the KKR coaching staff after being sacked by the BCCI, there are certain complications associated with it. He might not be able to join mid-season, owing to his soon-to-end contract with the Indian cricket team.

Ajinkya Rahane and Abhishek Nayar
Abhishek Nayar was spotted at the Eden Gardens during KKR’s training session. (via ESPNCricinfo)

While Nayar is set to depart as Team India’s assistant coach ahead of the upcoming England tour, his contract with the BCCI runs until May 31. He can only join another team after the end of his existing contract. Moreover, a source also claimed that the replacements for the three Indian staffers, who have been sacked from their positions, will only be done at the behest of chief Indian selector Ajit Agarkar. 

With the ongoing IPL season ending on May 25, it does put Abhishek Nayar’s potential return in doubt. In spite of that, the 41-year-old has already arrived in Kolkata to be a part of team’s training sessions. His return could very well benefit the three-time IPL champions, who have struggled with consistency.