New Delhi: Days after his role with the Indian cricket team as an assistant coach ended prematurely, Abhishek Nayar is learnt to have joined the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the middle of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL). While there is no official confirmation by either Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) or KKR, TimesofIndia.com understands that the former India all-rounder could well be in the three-time champions dugout for their next game against Shubman Gill-led Gujarat Titans at the Eden Gardens on Monday. KKR spinner Varun Chakravarthy had hinted at a reunion with an Instagram story on Friday.
Although speculation is rife that he’s been sacked, there is no official confirmation from BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia. When contacted by TimesofIndia.com, Saikia said, “I will give you a clear picture and details in the next one-two days.” Nayar’s re-entry into the dressing room will depend on when the Indian cricket board issues a statement on the matter.
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KKR set-up values Nayar very highly and he enjoys a lot of respect in that changing room. Even though the captain has changed this season, it is understood that the coach-captain combination of Chandrakant Pandit and Ajinkya Rahane would welcome Nayar with open arms. Even the management will have no qualms on the appointment.
Nayar’s mid-season entry into the KKR setup, however, raises plenty of questions. Shouldn’t he go through a cooling-off period? Why is he allowed to join a franchise within a week after leaving the Team India job?
Take the example of GT skipper Shubman Gill, all-rounder Washington Sundar, and fast bowler Mohammed Siraj — all three are Team India regulars with whom Nayar has spent a lot of time and must have information about their strengths and weaknesses.
Poll
Do you think Nayar’s knowledge of Team India players gives KKR an unfair advantage?
In this day and age, it is extremely difficult for cricketers to share their secrets, worries, and fears. And with Nayar at the helm with Team India, they must at some point have revealed their concerns in good faith. Now, in a couple of days, Nayar will be making plans against Gill, Sundar, and Siraj to help KKR get two points.
What if another star batter, had shared their injury concerns with Nayar in good faith, would this not be a tactical insight in a game of small margins?
Signs of things to come?
Rohit Sharma has expressed his intention to lead India in England.
With Nayar gone, who was included in Gautam Gambhir’s support staff upon the recommendation of Rohit Sharma, it raises another question: is the 38-year-old a surety for the gruelling five-match series in England? Rohit had a miserable outing with the bat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he managed 31 runs in five innings before dropping himself for the fifth and final Test. The IPL has continued to be miserable for Rohit who has managed just 82 runs from six innings.
There is still uncertainty over whether Rohit will go to England or if his body can endure a five-match Test series just after the IPL. However, the Indian captain has publicly voiced his intention to lead India and has even chalked out his plans, while closely monitoring the workload of seamers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami.
Get the latest IPL 2025 updates on Times of India, including match schedules, team squads, points table and IPL live score for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Don’t miss the list of players in the race for IPL Orange Cap and IPL Purple cap.
