Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) might welcome back Abhishek Nayar following the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) decision to terminate his contract as India's assistant coach, as per a report in Cricbuzz. Alongside Nayar, India's fielding coach T Dilip and strength and conditioning coach Soham Desai are also reportedly set to be relieved of their duties by the BCCI in the aftermath of the disappointing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series in Australia during 2024-25.
Abhishek Nayar may join KKR
The contracts of Nayar, Dilip, and Desai were initially valid until June which means Team India will be without the services of this coaching trio when they tour to England. In their stead, Adrian le Roux is expected to assume the role of the national team's new strength and conditioning coach, while Ryan ten Doeschate is slated to take over the responsibilities of the fielding coach.
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Sources indicate that the BCCI's review will not extend to head coach Gautam Gambhir, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, bowling coach Morne Morkel, and assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate, suggesting their positions are secure. Moreover, Abhishek Nayar's departure from the national setup will not result in a direct replacement, as Sitanshu Kotak is expected to provide assistance to the head coach, Gautam Gambhir.
According to a report by Cricbuzz, Abhishek Nayar is likely to make a return to the KKR. The management of the Kolkata Knight Riders has consistently valued his contributions and the positive influence he has had on the team environment.
Given his past contributions and the positive regard held for him by the KKR management, the possibility of Abhishek Nayar's return to the franchise appears quite strong.
Abhishek Nayar held a dual role within KKR set up, simultaneously managing the KKR Academy and serving as an assistant coach for the senior team. Beyond his commitments with the franchise, Nayar has also been actively involved in providing personal training to a number of individual cricketers, including the captain of the Indian national team, Rohit Sharma.
Recently, KL Rahul became the latest player to benefit from Nayar's coaching expertise. Immediately following the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Rahul sought out Nayar for training sessions specifically aimed at preparing him for the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. This dedicated effort has yielded positive results, as Rahul has delivered a series of impressive performances for the Delhi Capitals in the current tournament.
KL Rahul has even publicly recognised Nayar's big contribution to his improved form, crediting him for the valuable guidance and unwavering support that have enabled him to regain his consistency this season.
Turning to KKR' performance in the ongoing IPL 2025, the defending champions have experienced a mixed start to their campaign. Having played seven matches so far, they have suffered four defeats and currently occupy the sixth position in the points table with a total of 6 points. They will next lock horns with Gujarat Titans (GT) on April 21 at the Eden Gardens.