IPL 2025: Abhishek Nayar rejoins Kolkata Knight Riders support staff after being sacked as India's assistant coach

Abhishek Nayar, who was recently sacked as team India's batting coach, joined Kolkata Knight Riders support staff for the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season. However, the specifics of his role have not been mentioned yet.

"Abhishek Nayar has rejoined our support staff. He is likely to be at training at Eden today," a franchise statement said on Saturday (April 19). His appointment comes even before the BCCI has formally announced his departure from the national team setup.
It is, however, clear that the BCCI has chosen not to continue with several support staff members, including Nayar, who served as deputy to head coach Gautam Gambhir for eight months. Alongside him, fielding coach T Dilip and strength and conditioning trainer Soham Desai have also been relieved of their duties.
Known for his behind-the-scenes influence and player-first approach, Nayar played a key role in the development of several KKR stars during his previous tenure with the team.


Young talents like Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, and Varun Chakravarthy emerged under his guidance, earning praise for both their technique and temperament.

With the league stage heating up and the playoffs within reach, bringing back a trusted figure like Nayar could add much-needed calm and clarity to the dressing room. KKR are currently placed sixth on the points table with three wins and four defeats in seven matches.