BCCI Cuts Gautam Gambhir’s Support Staff, Sacks Abhishek Nayar & T Dilip

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India] April 17: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has taken decisive steps following Team India’s disappointing performance in the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In a significant move, the BCCI has sacked assistant coach Abhishek Nayar just eight months into his role. The decision comes amid a broader shake-up in the support staff. 

Alongside Nayar, Fielding Coach T Dilip and Strength & Conditioning Coach Soham Desai have also been relieved of their duties. While Dilip and Soham had completed their three-year tenure with the national team, Nayar’s removal is being viewed as a direct consequence of India’s poor form and internal issues, including dressing room leaks.

This decision by the Indian cricket board received mixed reactions from fans. Social media was flooded with messages about Nayar being made the scapegoat. The fans even suggested that the accountability should extend to other senior team members, including the captain and head coach.

According to the Hindustan Times report, Nayar was never the first-choice assistant for head coach Gautam Gambhir when the appointments were finalised. The 41-year-old Nayar was appointed as he was seen as someone who could act as a bridge between Gambhir and skipper Rohit Sharma.

Accoring to multiple reports the BCCI is not expected to immediately name replacements for Dilip and Nayar. Sitanshu Kotak is already associated with the team while Ryan ten Doeschate will oversee T Dilip’s role . Desai role will be taken over by Adrian Le Roux. The South African is currently part of the Punjab Kings’ support staff in the IPL and previously served with Kolkata Knight Riders between 2008 and 2019.

The new-look support staff is expected to join the Indian team ahead of their crucial five-match Test series against England, which begins on June 20.