Abhishek Nayar returns to KKR fold after removal as India coach
Kolkata, Apr 19 (PTI): Days after his removal as India's assistant coach, Abhishek Nayar on Saturday returned to Kolkata Knight Riders fold but his exact role and position has not been specified by the IPL side.
Nayar was part of the KKR set up as an assistant coach and mentor when they lifted their third IPL title last year, a decade after their previous triumph in 2014.
He also played a pivotal role in player development at the KKR Academy.
"Welcome back home, Abhishek Nayar," KKR posted on X, confirming his re-entry into the team setup.
In an earlier post KKR revealed that he was back as assistant coach but soon deleted it from X.
BCCI had sacked support staff members Nayar, fielding coach T Dilip, and the conditioning coach Soham Desai following a performance review in the wake of India's dismal run in Test cricket.
Nayar had joined the national team in July 2024.
He is expected to be in the KKR dugout when the team clashes with Gujarat Titans on Monday at Eden Gardens. He was seen training with the team, engaging closely with players, and offering inputs during discussions.
There was a palpable buzz in the KKR camp around his re-entry, with several players seen interacting warmly with the returning coach.
Nayar, 41, has long been considered a key figure in the franchise’s cricketing operations. He was instrumental in setting up and managing the KKR Academy in Mumbai, which has been the team's training base for years.
He has also been the eyes and ears of KKR CEO Venky Mysore, especially in the lead-up to auctions, playing a critical role in player retention and recruitment strategies.
In fact, before Gautam Gambhir rejoined KKR ahead of the 2024 season as mentor, Nayar was said to have more influence on cricketing matters than head coach Chandrakant Pandit.
"Abhishek would never be out of work even though he has been sacked in a very hostile manner. Everyone in Indian cricket knew that the moment BCCI gets rid of him, KKR would have him back in their fold," an IPL source told PTI on condition of anonymity.
His close association with Gambhir, now India's head coach, has been a significant feature of his coaching journey.
SACKING FROM INDIAN TEAM LED TO KKR RETURN
Unhappy with India's performance, BCCI decided to make changes in the national team set up.
India suffered an unprecedented 0-3 whitewash at home against New Zealand, followed by a 1-3 series defeat -- first in a decade -- in Australia during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Despite earning praise for his work with players like KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, and Shreyas Iyer, his future became uncertain after the BCCI brought in Sitanshu Kotak as batting coach for the England white-ball series earlier this year.
The BCCI has not issued any official communication regrading Nayar's termination.
Welcome back home, @abhisheknayar1 💜 pic.twitter.com/IwJQTnAWxa
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 19, 2025
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Experience comes when you play bigger teams in bilateral series: Rashid Khan
Chennai (PTI): Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan called for more bilateral series against stronger cricketing nations after his team signed off from the T20 World Cup on a high, defeating Canada in their final group match here on Thursday.
Afghanistan played some exhilarating cricket, going down to South Africa in a gripping second Super Over after the scores were tied, a humdinger that provided one of the early thrills of the World Cup.
However, the spin-bowling stalwart said Afghanistan could make significant strides if they get regular opportunities to compete against stronger cricketing nations.
"Couple of areas to improve, with the batting, the middle order got a bit stuck against the big teams, and then with the bowling the death overs. That comes when you play the bigger teams in bilateral series," said Rashid after his team defeat Canada by 82 runs, with him returning excellent figures of 2 for 19.
The stalwart said the side had arrived well prepared for the tournament and produced some breathtaking cricket, but admitted the narrow defeat to South Africa proved costly and remained a painful setback.
"We were well-prepared (for the tournament), we played some unbelievable cricket. The game against South Africa, that really hurt everyone. We had to win one of those (first two) games and see how the tournament unfolded. We'll take some positive things from this World Cup and look forward," he said.
With head coach Jonathan Trott set to part ways with the team, Rashid described the departure as an "emotional" moment for the side.
"I think we had some wonderful times with him. Where we are now, he played a main role. It's emotional to see him leave us, but that's how life is. We wish him all the best and somewhere down the line we see him again."
Ibrahim Zadran, who was named Player of the Match for his unbeaten 95 off 56 balls, said it was satisfying to finally register a substantial score after two below-par outings.
"I enjoyed it, didn't play better cricket in first two innings, which I expect. Wanted to back my skills, really enjoyed it. Pressure was there, it's there all the time. I want to put myself in pressure situations and enjoy it," said Zadran.
"Wanted to play positive cricket, rotate strike and punish bad ball, create partnerships and this is what I have done."
