Following India’s disappointing performance in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has swiftly acted by parting ways with several members of the coaching staff.
Assistant coach Abhishek Nayar, who had only joined the team eight months earlier, is among those to have been let go. Fielding coach T. Dilip and strength and conditioning coach Soham Desai have also been dismissed. Additionally, a team masseur has reportedly been removed as part of the overall restructuring.
After India’s humiliating series loss, the BCCI turned to Gautam Gambhir, who replaced Rahul Dravid as the new head coach. Gambhir brought several key members of his Kolkata Knight Riders staff, including Nayar, Ryan ten Doeschate, and Morne Morkel. Despite early batting struggles both in home Tests against New Zealand and away in Australia, Gambhir and his team bounced back strongly, securing a Champions Trophy title. Nayar, ten Doeschate, Morkel, Dilip, and Kotak were instrumental in the team’s triumph.
Although Nayar’s tenure with India has come to an end, the rest of the coaching staff members remain, with plans for them to fill in the roles left vacant. To cover the immediate gaps, Ryan ten Doeschate, the assistant coach, will temporarily handle fielding duties in place of Dilip. South African trainer Adrian Le Roux, who is currently working with Punjab Kings in the IPL, will take over strength and conditioning duties from Soham Desai.
The restructured support staff is set to join the Indian team ahead of their critical five-match Test series against England, scheduled to begin on June 20. With the pressure mounting after the setback in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the BCCI is making these changes to rejuvenate the team’s structure and morale before another high-profile red-ball series. Fans are eagerly speculating whether replacements for Nayar and Dilip will be appointed in time for the upcoming series.
