(Source X)
Following the appointment of Gautam Gambhir as the new head coach of the Indian cricket team, succeeding Rahul Dravid post the T20 World Cup 2024 victory, there will be changes in the coaching staff.
Gambhir has requested new appointments in place of former batting coach Vikram Rathour and bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, indicating his preference for a customized support staff approved by the BCCI.
Gautam Gambhir prefers Abhishek Nayar and Vinay Kumar as his assistants.
Gambhir has reportedly urged the BCCI to consider Abhishek Nayar for the role of batting coach and Vinay Kumar for the position of bowling coach within Team India. Gambhir’s endorsement of Nayar stems from their successful collaboration at Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), where they played pivotal roles in securing the IPL 2024 championship.
Nayar, a former India and Mumbai cricketer, has demonstrated his coaching prowess at KKR, overseeing their batting department and contributing significantly to the development of players such as Dinesh Karthik and Rinku Singh. His ability to identify and nurture talent has been a standout feature, complemented by a close relationship with Indian captain Rohit Sharma, whom he previously supported during challenging times.
Vinay Kumar, renowned for his extensive experience across all formats and leadership of Karnataka’s Ranji Trophy victories in 2014 and 2015, has emerged as Gambhir’s preferred choice to succeed Paras Mhambrey as Team India’s bowling coach. Known for his astute judgment and talent-spotting abilities, Kumar’s potential addition to the coaching staff awaits the BCCI’s final decision.
Despite Gambhir’s strong recommendations, the BCCI has yet to announce its stance on these appointments, leaving the cricketing community in anticipation of their verdict.
BCCI will appoint Abhishek Nayar as batting coach but has declined Gautam Gambhir’s recommendation for Vinay Kumar as bowling coach.
According to a report by Jagran News, there is strong speculation that Abhishek Nayar will replace Vikram Rathour as Team India’s batting coach. However, the BCCI seems reluctant to fulfill Gambhir’s request to appoint Vinay Kumar as the bowling coach after the support staff contracts expired with Dravid’s tenure.
The Jagran News report also suggests that T. Dilip, India’s current fielding coach, is likely to retain his position under Gambhir’s leadership. Nevertheless, the BCCI is apparently exploring other candidates for the bowling coach role instead of Vinay Kumar.
Meanwhile, the BCCI has confirmed that Vikram Rathour, Paras Mhambrey, and T. Dilip concluded their roles as India’s batting coach, bowling coach, and fielding coach following India’s victorious campaign in the T20 World Cup 2024 under Rahul Dravid’s tenure.
The BCCI said in a statement: “The Board congratulates Mr. Paras Mhambrey (Bowling Coach), Mr. T. Dilip (Fielding Coach), and Mr. Vikram Rathour (Batting Coach) on a highly successful tenure. The BCCI values their contribution and wishes them the best going forward.”
Interestingly, Gambhir lacks experience coaching at the international or Ranji levels but has demonstrated his coaching prowess with IPL teams. He notably mentored the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for several seasons, contributing to their playoff appearances. His return to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) also saw significant success, as he played a pivotal role in guiding them to another IPL championship earlier this year.
