Following India’s disappointing 1-3 series loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has taken swift action by removing several key members of the team’s support staff.
Among those who have been shown the door are assistant coach Abhishek Nayar, fielding coach T. Dilip, and strength and conditioning coach Soham Desai. This significant reshuffle comes as the BCCI looks to address the team’s underwhelming performance, particularly in light of the disappointing results against Australia.
Reports also indicate that a team masseur has been let go, suggesting a broader restructuring within the Indian team’s backroom setup.
This shake-up follows the recent appointment of Gautam Gambhir as the new head coach, succeeding Rahul Dravid. Gambhir, who took over after India’s premature exit from the 2024 World Cup, has been actively involved in reshaping the team’s strategy and approach.
Under Gambhir’s guidance, India had previously managed to secure a Champions Trophy title, demonstrating resilience after earlier setbacks, including struggles with their batting both at home and on foreign soil.
With Gambhir at the helm, several members of his former coaching staff from Kolkata Knight Riders were brought into the Indian team’s setup, including Nayar, Ryan ten Doeschate, and Morne Morkel. However, these changes were not enough to prevent the disappointing results in Australia, particularly the struggles faced by the Indian batsmen in challenging conditions.
Earlier this year, in response to criticism surrounding India’s batting performances, the BCCI had appointed Sitanshu Kotak, the NCA and India A coach, as the batting coach for white-ball assignments. Despite some initial hurdles, the support staff rallied under Gambhir’s leadership, culminating in an impressive comeback to clinch the Champions Trophy.
Following the dismissal of key coaches like Nayar and Dilip, the BCCI has yet to officially announce direct replacements for the outgoing staff members. In the interim, Ryan ten Doeschate, who currently serves as an assistant coach, is expected to take on fielding duties. However, there has been no immediate announcement regarding a new assistant coach to fill Nayar’s role.
As the Indian team now gears up for their next major challenge—a significant five-match Test series against England, commencing on June 20th—the BCCI’s reshuffling of the support staff is a clear attempt to reset the team’s structure and boost morale.
The pressure will undoubtedly be immense on both the players and the new-look coaching staff to deliver strong performances, especially after the setback experienced in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Fans and cricket analysts alike are left to speculate whether these changes in the support personnel will be enough to turn things around before the high-stakes series against England.
