Gautam Gambhir is the new head coach of the India men's cricket team. He is now assembling a robust support staff. His team includes coaches known for their contributions to state cricket and the Indian Premier League (IPL). Abhishek Nayar has had a successful stint with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). He shares a strong professional rapport with Gambhir.
Nayar, 40, is a former India all-rounder with three One Day Internationals (ODIs) from 2009. He will bring his extensive coaching experience to the national team. Nayar's association with India skipper Rohit Sharma enhances his credentials. Instead of a specialized batting coach, Nayar is likely to take on the role of an assistant coach. Gambhir may assume the batting coach's responsibilities himself.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on June 9 the end of Rahul Dravid's tenure as head coach. Sources now say that T Dilip, a fielding coach under Dravid, is likely to stay.
The BCCI thanked Dravid, Paras Mhambrey, T. Dilip, and Vikram Rathour for their services. Yet, the board appears to value Dilip's contributions enough to keep him on Gambhir's staff.
"The Board congratulates Mr. Paras Mhambrey (bowling coach), Mr. T. Dilip (fielding coach), and Mr. Vikram Rathour (batting coach) on a successful tenure. The BCCI values their contribution and wishes them the best going forward," the release stated. Despite this, insiders suggest that Dilip's role as a fielding coach will continue.
Discussions are ongoing regarding the bowling coach position. Lakshmipathy Balaji and Vinay Kumar worked with Gambhir at KKR. They are among the candidates. Yet, Gambhir might opt for a higher-profile coach with a proven ability to nurture young talent. The goal is to strengthen India's fast-bowling bench, which has been an asset recently.
The new bowling coach will guide the next generation of pace bowlers like Harshit Rana, Tushar Deshpande, and Mayank Yadav.
Gambhir's emphasis on experienced professionals reflects his commitment to a strong coaching team. Nayar's inclusion, alongside Dilip's retention, is an intent to maintain continuity with new expertise.
The cricket community eagerly awaits the finalization of Gambhir's staff. Gambhir's choice will be essential in shaping the team's future.