BCCI Terminates Assistant Coach Abhishek Nayar's Contract After Test Review

The BCCI has terminated Abhishek Nayar’s contract as assistant coach of the Indian men’s cricket team, marking the first major fallout from the board's internal review into India’s underwhelming Test performances in late 2024.

Nayar, who was appointed in July 2024 as part of Gautam Gambhir’s coaching team, has been released from his role less than a year into the job. His removal comes in the wake of India’s disappointing run in the longest format, which included a 3-0 whitewash at home against New Zealand and a 3-1 series defeat in Australia during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Review Sparks Changes

The decision follows a comprehensive performance review conducted by the BCCI in January. Held in Mumbai, the meeting was attended by head coach Gambhir, India captain Rohit Sharma, chief selector Ajit Agarkar, and BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia. The session was designed to evaluate the Test side’s slump and to identify changes needed across the coaching setup.

Though Gambhir, who was given a three-year contract through to the 2027 ODI World Cup, retains his position, Nayar becomes the first high-profile casualty of that review process.

Background and Coaching Stint

A former Mumbai allrounder and three-time India ODI player, Nayar had forged a strong reputation as a mentor, having worked closely with several top Indian cricketers including Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer.

He was brought into the national setup after his successful stint alongside Gambhir with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) during IPL 2024 — a season in which the franchise lifted their third title, ending a decade-long drought.

Despite his lack of domestic head coaching experience, Nayar was widely respected for his one-on-one development work with players. His appointment was seen as a forward-thinking move, but cracks began to show earlier this year.

Signs of Change

Speculation about Nayar’s role emerged in January when the BCCI appointed former Saurashtra batter Sitanshu Kotak as batting coach for the white-ball home series against England. At that point, questions were raised about overlapping responsibilities, especially with Nayar and Kotak both involved in coaching duties.

While Kotak, Nayar, fielding coach T. Dilip, and assistant Ryan ten Doeschate had all traveled as part of the backroom staff for the Champions Trophy, the change signaled the BCCI’s intent to reassess its coaching structure.

Player Support

Nayar’s departure may come as a surprise to some players. KL Rahul recently acknowledged Nayar's role in improving his white-ball performances, stating, “Big shoutout to Abhishek Nayar. I've worked a lot with him ever since he's come into the Indian team.”

Despite such support, Nayar’s future with the national side now comes to an abrupt end.

Neither Nayar nor BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has officially commented on the decision. ESPNcricinfo has reached out for clarification.

With this move, the BCCI has signaled a willingness to make bold changes as India aims to course-correct in red-ball cricket ahead of a packed international calendar, including the ODI World Cup later this year.