Abhishek Nayar has re-joined Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) coaching staff midway through the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 on April 19. BCCI recently sacked Abhishek Nayar as Team India's assistant coach following Men in Blue's Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-2025 fiasco.
Abhishek Nayar rejoins KKR
The defending champions KKR took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to announce the homecoming of Abhishek Nayar. KKR will next play Gujarat Titans as the Eden Gardens on April 21. Abhishek is expected to be there at team's training at Eden Gardens on April 19.
Abhishek has a history with KKR as he along with former mentor Gautam Gambhir guided the three-time IPL champions to title triumph in 2024.
As the IPL league stage intensifies and the playoff berths become increasingly attainable, the re-engagement of a familiar and respected figure like Abhishek Nayar could inject a crucial sense of composure and strategic direction into the KKR. His presence is anticipated to bring a calming influence and enhanced clarity within the dressing room during this critical phase of the tournament.
KKR are currently placed at the sixth position in the IPL 2025 points table with just three wins in a total of seven matches.
Nayar's previous contractual agreement with Team India as their assistant coach was understood to extend until the conclusion of May. However, following consecutive Test series defeats against New Zealand and Australia, the BCCI decided to implement organizational changes. As a result, Nayar, along with fielding coach T Dilip, and strength and conditioning (S&C) coach Soham Desai, were relieved of their respective responsibilities.
Renowned for his typical behind-the-scenes impact and a player-centric philosophy, Nayar played a pivotal role in the progress and maturation of several key players for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) during his earlier association with the franchise. His mentorship was characterized by a focus on holistic development, nurturing not only the technical aspects of their game but also their mental fortitude. Under Nayar's guidance, emerging talents such as Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, and Varun Chakravarthy attained growth and success.
It will be interesting to see whether Abhishek's return could change KKR's fortune in the ongoing IPL 2025