
Gautam Gambhir did not contest Abhishek Nayar's dismissal; senior players expressed dissatisfaction with his presence in the dressing room
13 days ago | 5 Views
India's head coach Gautam Gambhir, who played a significant role in bringing Abhishek Nayar onto his support staff, expressed dissatisfaction with the former all-rounder's contributions and did not contest the BCCI's decision to terminate Nayar's contract early. According to sources familiar with the situation, the collaboration between Gambhir and Nayar, which had been successful during their time with the Kolkata Knight Riders and crucial in securing an IPL title after a decade, failed to resonate within the Indian team for reasons that remain unclear.
Nayar's challenges were compounded by his difficulty in establishing strong relationships with several senior team members. This is surprising, given his history of working closely with prominent players such as Dinesh Karthik, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and Varun Chakaravarthy, where he played a key role in enhancing their individual performances. Notably, Nayar was pivotal in reviving the careers of Karthik and Chakaravarthy, with Karthik specifically selecting Nayar as his assistant coach during his tenure as KKR captain.
A BCCI source informed Hindustan Times that "the board officials gathered feedback from senior players, and some expressed dissatisfaction with Nayar's influence in the dressing room. He was notified about the non-renewal of his contract a few days ago."
Nayar, a prominent figure in Mumbai cricket and a former player for India in three ODIs, was appointed as Team India's assistant coach based on Gambhir's recommendation. It is a customary practice within the BCCI for the head coach to select their support staff, a tradition that continued when Gambhir succeeded Rahul Dravid following India's T20 World Cup victory.
In addition to Nayar, Gambhir also suggested Ryan ten Doeschate for the fielding coach position and Morne Morkel as the bowling coach. The senior players and board members were satisfied with T Dilip's performance as fielding coach, and since his contract had not yet expired, he received an extension. This situation contributed to the emerging issues.
The only way the board could address...
Gambhir didn't oppose Nayar's sacking; Sitangshu Kotak to continue as batting coach
The decision became evident when the BCCI, following a review meeting with Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma, appointed Sitangshu Kotak as the batting coach. Kotak, previously associated with the NCA, joined the team for the home white-ball series against England and accompanied them for the Champions Trophy.
Gambhir did not express any objections when the board opted to reduce his support staff. "Gambhir did not oppose Nayar's dismissal. He had engaged in extensive negotiations to secure the involvement of ten Doeschate and Morkel. There was no way he would allow their departure at this stage," a source revealed.
It is anticipated that Kotak will remain in his role as batting coach, while the position of assistant coach may be eliminated, as ten Doeschate is expected to transition to the role of fielding coach, following the conclusion of Dilip's contract.
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