MUMBAI: Former India and Mumbai allrounder Abhishek Nayar could be India’s new assistant coach, TOI has learnt.
Apparently, India’s newly-appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir, who was a mentor of 2024 IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders, is highly impressed with the work put in by Nayar in the backroom as an assistant coach at the franchise, where he has been in the post since 2018, and wants him as an integral part of ‘Team Gambhir’ for India.
It will also help that Nayar has an excellent equation with India’s ODI and Test captain Rohit Sharma. It can be recalled that a few years back, India’s wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik, who retired recently, had credited Nayar and his coaching methods for his resurgence. Soon after KKR‘s IPL triumph in May, leg-spinner Varun Chakravarthy had praised Nayar’s role in the set-up.
TOI tried to get in touch with Nayar, but he didn’t respond to calls or messages.
Talking about Nayar’s input in the IPL title win, KKR head coach Chandrakant Pandit had told this paper in an interview, “Nayar’s contribution was huge. He spends time throughout the year with our domestic players. Whenever they are free, our domestic players come to Mumbai for a camp with us. It’s not necessary that 15 players have to be there for us to have a camp. Even if one player is available, he’s welcome to fly down to practice with us.”
In the Mumbai team and later at KKR, Nayar played a mentor to several youngsters, including KKR captain and India batter Shreyas Iyer. “Nayar loves guiding the youngsters. These days, he often comes to Mumbai’s training camp at BKC, and spends time with the players, giving them valuable tips. And he isn’t charging a rupee for this to the Mumbai Cricket Association. He is just passionate about Mumbai cricket,” a source told TOI.
The 40-year-old Nayar played three ODIs for India in 2009.
Zaheer for bowling coach?
Meanwhile, if reports are to be believed, the BCCI is interested in roping in India’s pace bowling great Zaheer Khan as the men’s team’s new bowling coach. Gambhir is believed to have proposed former India and Karnataka speedster Vinay Kumar‘s name for the role, with L Balaji being the other option.
One member of Rahul Dravid’s outgoing staff, fielding coach T Dilip, could be retained.
Apparently, India’s newly-appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir, who was a mentor of 2024 IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders, is highly impressed with the work put in by Nayar in the backroom as an assistant coach at the franchise, where he has been in the post since 2018, and wants him as an integral part of ‘Team Gambhir’ for India.
It will also help that Nayar has an excellent equation with India’s ODI and Test captain Rohit Sharma. It can be recalled that a few years back, India’s wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik, who retired recently, had credited Nayar and his coaching methods for his resurgence. Soon after KKR‘s IPL triumph in May, leg-spinner Varun Chakravarthy had praised Nayar’s role in the set-up.
TOI tried to get in touch with Nayar, but he didn’t respond to calls or messages.
Talking about Nayar’s input in the IPL title win, KKR head coach Chandrakant Pandit had told this paper in an interview, “Nayar’s contribution was huge. He spends time throughout the year with our domestic players. Whenever they are free, our domestic players come to Mumbai for a camp with us. It’s not necessary that 15 players have to be there for us to have a camp. Even if one player is available, he’s welcome to fly down to practice with us.”
In the Mumbai team and later at KKR, Nayar played a mentor to several youngsters, including KKR captain and India batter Shreyas Iyer. “Nayar loves guiding the youngsters. These days, he often comes to Mumbai’s training camp at BKC, and spends time with the players, giving them valuable tips. And he isn’t charging a rupee for this to the Mumbai Cricket Association. He is just passionate about Mumbai cricket,” a source told TOI.
The 40-year-old Nayar played three ODIs for India in 2009.
Zaheer for bowling coach?
Meanwhile, if reports are to be believed, the BCCI is interested in roping in India’s pace bowling great Zaheer Khan as the men’s team’s new bowling coach. Gambhir is believed to have proposed former India and Karnataka speedster Vinay Kumar‘s name for the role, with L Balaji being the other option.
One member of Rahul Dravid’s outgoing staff, fielding coach T Dilip, could be retained.
