Gautam Gambhir has asked Abhishek Nayar who is a recognised former all-rounder to become the deputy trainer for India team. Gambhir was announced as the senior national men’s team’s new head coach, and worked with Nayar in Kolkata Knight Riders from the 2024 IPL season.
According to the news agency PTI, Gambhir asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to include Abhishek Nayar in his coaching staff. Nayar has been running successfully at the KKR Academy as its director. Nayar has been highly praised by many young as well as experienced cricket players for his contribution in helping them develop their careers. Nayar’s mentorship played a crucial role in Dinesh Karthik’s transformation into a world-class finisher later on in his career.
Gambhir decided to quit his position as Knight Riders’ mentor after one year in order to become a head coach for India; his playing opens were given a lot of credit as regards KKR’s success during the 2024 IPL. Theirs is a harmonious partnership where close relationships have developed between Gambhir and Nayar – a former Mumbai cricketer who also gets along well with the Test as well as ODI captain of India Rohit Sharma.
On Tuesday, the BCCI announced that Vikram Rathour’s (batting coach), Paras Mhambrey’s (bowling coach) and T Dilip’s (fielding coach) support staff would leave the franchise along with Rahul Dravid after he resigned as the head coach following the T20 World Cup win.
BCCI had invited applications for the vacant head coaching position before the T20 World Cup and Gambhir applied. Rahul Dravid had thought of quitting the job following the ODI World Cup last November, but he kept going until the end of a successful coaching career. Following the ODI World Cup final match, which India lost to Australia, Rohit Sharma contacted him pleadingly not to step down until T20 World Cup climax.
“Gambhir has zero coaching experience at the senior international level. He has not ever coached a side in the IPL before.” Yet, his mentoring roles with Lucknow Super Giants and Knight Riders have been very impactful.
Gautam Gambhir is set to start his coaching tenure with team India from July 27 as team India is set to tour srilanka for a three match ODI and T 20 series
