Another exit from Team India: BCCI parts ways with this long-serving member

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has ended its association with Rajeev Kumar, the Indian team’s long-serving masseur, bringing down the curtain on his nearly decade-long stint with the national side.

For players and fans, Kumar was more than just part of the support staff. Known for his ever-present smile, he worked tirelessly after matches to ease players’ fatigue, providing massage therapy, preparing energy drinks, protein shakes, and hydration mixes tailored to individual needs.

Kumar, who had become a familiar presence in the Indian dressing room, confirmed his exit through an Instagram story. He wrote: “Its been a privilege and honour to serve Indian cricket team for a decade (2016–2025) thankyou god for the opportunity truly grateful and looking forward.”

On the field, he was a regular at the boundary ropes, collecting stray balls to keep play moving and ensuring players stayed fresh. His close rapport with fast bowlers was well known, given the physical demands of their spells.

His popularity extended to fans too — in 2019, Mohammed Shami shared a birthday post with Kumar and Ishant Sharma, while Yuzvendra Chahal once described him and others as the “unsung heroes” who supported the cricketers behind the scenes.

Kumar’s departure comes at a time when the Indian team’s support staff is seeing changes, with Abhishek Nayar, Arun Kanade, and Soham Desai also moving out recently. Fielding coach T. Dilip had a brief exit before being reinstated.