Abhishek Nayar's Tenure as Assistant Coach of Indian Cricket Team in Jeopardy

Speculations Surrounding Nayar's Future

Just eight months into his significant role, Abhishek Nayar, the assistant coach for the Indian cricket team, may be facing dismissal amid rumors of a rift with a prominent member of the coaching staff.

According to sources within the board, Nayar has reportedly been informed about the BCCI's intention to terminate his contract.

Additionally, fielding coach T Dilip and Strength and Conditioning coach Soham Desai are also expected to exit after serving over three years in their roles.

The BCCI's new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has limited the duration of support staff appointments to three years.

It has been suggested that Adrian Le Roux, India's first Strength and Conditioning coach, might return for another term. He is recognized for establishing a new fitness regime during the 2003 World Cup under Sourav Ganguly's captaincy.

When approached for comments, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia neither confirmed nor denied the reports, stating, "Certain things are being finalized. A press release from the BCCI will be issued in a few days."

Nayar, a former all-rounder with three ODIs to his name and a solid domestic career featuring 103 first-class matches, did not respond to a text message seeking his comments.

Concerns Over Nayar's Role

Reports indicate that Nayar's exit was anticipated following the addition of Sitanshu Kotak as an extra batting coach for the Indian team.

"After the Australia tour, a review meeting was held by the BCCI, attended by top officials including secretary Devajit Saikia and vice-president Rajeev Shukla, along with key members of the Indian team and national selectors," a senior BCCI official shared on the condition of anonymity.

"During this meeting, a significant member of the support staff raised concerns about Nayar's role, suggesting that his presence was counter-productive in the dressing room.

"Although the BCCI did not take immediate action, they appointed Kotak, a former Saurashtra player, as a means to marginalize Nayar during the Champions Trophy," the source added.

It appears that Nayar was not the initial choice for the assistant coach position under head coach Gautam Gambhir; he was selected to serve as a liaison between Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma.

Both Nayar and Dilip have been considered Rohit's "most trusted aides," and it remains unclear whether Rohit was informed about these developments by the BCCI officials.