April 17, 2025: After a disappointing 3-1 defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 series against Australia, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to part ways with assistant coach Abhishek Nayar and fielding coach T Dilip. The decision comes in the wake of India’s poor performance, which also saw the team miss out on qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final at Lord’s.
BCCI sources confirmed that Nayar, Dilip, and Strength and Conditioning coach Soham Desai have been removed from their roles. This move follows heavy criticism of key players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who struggled significantly with the bat during the series.
Sharma’s dismal return of 31 runs in three matches and Kohli’s 190 runs from five matches were key talking points. Kohli in particular was targeted by the outside-off stump delivery, with Australian pacer Scott Boland dismissing him four times in the series.
Nayar’s role as an assistant coach was also scrutinised, with reports suggesting a ‘Kolkata Knight Riders touch’ in the management setup. Both Nayar and former Netherlands player Ryan Ten Doeschate, who also served as assistant coaches at KKR, joined Team India’s support staff during the Sri Lanka tour. The BCCI, however, appeared dissatisfied with the setup, leading to their removal after the team’s disappointing performance.
Earlier in January, the BCCI also issued new guidelines aimed at improving discipline within the team. The new rules focused on travel arrangements, family visits, and maintaining team unity, with strict restrictions on players travelling separately from the team.
India’s setback in the Border-Gavaskar series highlighted not just individual failures but also a broader issue of team cohesion, which the BCCI aims to address through these changes in the coaching staff and the implementation of new team guidelines.