Just eight months after his admission as Team India’s assistant coach, Abhishek Nayar has been relieved of his duty by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday, April 17. Alongside him, fielding coach T Dilip and Soham Desai have been also let go.
Fascinatingly, there have been major reports claiming that Nayar proved to be merely a scapegoat casuality after BCCI conducted a review meeting right after an unsuccessful Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) in Australia, where India lost 3-1.
Rift in Team India led Nayar’s ouster?
While India’s failure to reach the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final for the first time is the apparent reason behind the coaching revamp, a report by PTI hints at deeper fissures. It suggests that Nayar’s ouster may be rooted in a rift within the Indian dressing room—specifically a power struggle between a senior player and a key support staff member.
“While India’s recent Test debacles (against New Zealand and Australia) has led to the churning but there is also a feeling in the BCCI that Nayar became a scapegoat in the turf war between an important member of the support staff and a senior star player,” a BCCI source told PTI.
Key support staff member vs Nayar?
In a crucial review meeting post the Australia tour—attended by top BCCI officials, selectors, and support staff—concerns were reportedly raised over Nayar’s influence in the dressing room. It was alleged that his presence was proving to be “counter-productive,” prompting the board to act.
“On the sidelines of the meeting, a powerful member of the support staff expressed his apprehensions about Nayar’s presence and said how him being in the dressing room is proving to be counter-productive,” the source added.
Sitanshu Kotak’s subsequent appointment as batting coach is believed to be a tactical move to sideline Nayar. The same report also claims that Nayar was never Gautam Gambhir’s first-choice deputy, a claim that seems surprising, given the two gelled well during their time at the Kolkata Knight Riders and helping the franchise to lift the IPL 2024 title.
Rift in Team India dressing room behind Abhishek Nayar’s sacking? Inside Sport India.
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