In the wake of growing speculation around the Indian team’s support staff shake-up, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has all but confirmed that changes are on the horizon, without diving into specifics. Reports on Thursday revealed that assistant coach Abhishek Nayar, along with fielding coach T Dilip and strength and conditioning trainer Soham Desai, has been relieved of his duties, just eight months after taking on the role.
While the BCCI has yet to issue an official statement, insiders have confirmed that the trio was informed of their exit last week. “Certain things are being finalised. You will receive a press note from BCCI in some days,” Saikia told PTI, suggesting that an official announcement is imminent.
Interestingly, a deeper rift appears to have influenced these decisions. According to a PTI report, Nayar might have become an unfortunate casualty in a power struggle between a senior Indian player and a key member of the support staff. “India’s recent Test failures may have been a trigger, but there’s also a belief that Nayar became a scapegoat in an internal turf war,” a source within the board revealed.
WATCH – Arshdeep Singh Reflects On His Journey From Youngster To Senior At PBKS
This internal tension reportedly surfaced after the Australia series earlier this year. A review meeting was held, attended by top BCCI officials, including Saikia and Rajeev Shukla, alongside national selectors and team staff. It was here that concerns were allegedly raised over Nayar’s influence in the dressing room.
Abhishek Nayar sacked? 👀
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia says will have ‘clear picture in 1-2 days’ 🏏
FULL STORY: https://t.co/Us7f7DqCIn#BCCI #DevajitSaikia #AbhishekNair @BCCI
— TOI Sports (@toisports) April 17, 2025
“It was suggested by a senior member of the support staff that Nayar’s presence was counter-productive,” the source added. Shortly after, former Saurashtra batter Sitanshu Kotak was brought in as batting coach—an appointment now being viewed as a strategic move to push Nayar to the margins.
Adding another layer to the drama, it’s also claimed that Nayar wasn’t head coach Gautam Gambhir’s preferred choice for the assistant’s role during the initial appointments.
WATCH – Mitchell Starc and Yashasvi Jaiswal Share Heartfelt Chat After Super Over Thriller
While official confirmation is pending, it’s evident that the coaching reshuffle goes beyond just performance metrics—highlighting the complex dynamics at play behind the scenes in Indian cricket’s high-pressure environment.
