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Chandrakant Pandit, the head coach of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), recently shared his thoughts on the speculation surrounding assistant coach Abhishek Nayar potentially joining the Indian cricket team. Pandit commended Nayar for his significant role in KKR’s journey throughout the Indian Premier League (IPL) seasons.
In another development, Gautam Gambhir, a two-time World Cup winner, has been appointed as the head coach of the Indian cricket team. His tenure officially begins during the upcoming white-ball series in Sri Lanka. Rahul Dravid, under whose guidance India clinched their much-awaited World Cup title in the Caribbean, has stepped down from his coaching responsibilities.
With Gambhir assuming the helm, efforts are underway to finalize the coaching staff. Abhishek Nayar is reportedly being considered for the role of assistant coach. Gambhir has made a formal request to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to include Nayar in his support team, as per PTI reports.
In light of Rahul Dravid’s departure, the BCCI has announced that other members of the coaching staff, including Vikram Rathour, Paras Mhambrey, and T. Dilip, will also be moving on. The board acknowledged their successful tenures and extended gratitude for their contributions.
“The Board also 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,” the BCCI said in a statement.
Abhishek Nayar Has Also Done A Great Job With KKR – Chandrakant Pandit
Chandrakant Pandit recognized the invaluable contributions Abhishek Nayar has made to KKR throughout his tenure, highlighting his integral role within the team. Pandit conveyed his backing for Nayar as he considers potential new avenues in his career.
“This is also in the news. He (Nayar) has also done a great job with KKR for the last few years. He was equally valued to us. If someone gets the opportunity to excel in their career, one should be happy about that,” Pandit said, as quoted by News 18.
Abhishek Nayar has been instrumental as both a mentor and the head of the KKR Academy, earning accolades for his coaching prowess. Dinesh Karthik attributes his resurgence as a finisher in top-level cricket to Nayar’s guidance, while spinner Varun Chakravarthy has also highlighted Nayar’s impact following KKR’s recent IPL triumph.
Gautam Gambhir has been impressed by Abhishek Nayar’s contributions as assistant coach at Kolkata Knight Riders. Nayar shares a strong bond with Rohit Sharma, the captain of Team India in ODIs and Tests. Despite representing India in three ODIs back in 2009, Nayar’s international career was relatively brief.
Looking ahead, the new coaching staff’s inaugural challenge will be the upcoming series against Sri Lanka, featuring three ODIs and three T20Is. India’s future includes significant events such as the Border Gavaskar Trophy, the Champions Trophy 2025, the WTC final 2023-25, and culminating with the T20 World Cup 2025 and the ODI World Cup 2027.
