‘Homecoming’ of Abhishek Nayar was the highlight of Kolkata Knight Riders’ training session on Saturday. As the team bus pulled up in front of Eden Gardens around 4.30 pm and the players and support staff deboarded, Nayar’s presence offered a pleasant surprise. Official confirmation came some time later, via a post on the franchise’s X (erstwhile Twitter) handle. It was a one-liner: “Welcome back home, @abhisheknayar1.”
The post didn’t mention Nayar’s role, but he will be part of the support staff, teaming up with assistant coach Ottis Gibson.
Only a few days ago, it came to light that Nayar had been relieved from his position of the Indian team’s assistant coach. In fact, it hasn’t been made official yet. From that point of view, things happened rather quickly, with the 41-year-old joining the KKR set-up on Saturday.
Nayar had joined the KKR set-up in 2018 and looked after the players at the franchise’s academy in Mumbai as well, apart from serving as the team’s assistant coach during the IPL. Gautam Gambhir took him, along with Ryan ten Doeschate, to the India fold after he became the head coach of the national team. The two had worked together during KKR’s title-winning campaign last season. Nayar played a significant role in grooming the side’s young Indian cricketers, including Rinku Singh, Venkatesh Iyer and Angkrish Raghuvanshi. He also worked in a one-on-one capacity with Shreyas Iyer.
“All I can think right now is of the person who built this Indian core… Abhishek Nayar, please come here,” Varun Chakravarthy told the host broadcaster after KKR beat Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final last year, asking the assistant coach to join them.
Nayar’s stint with the Indian team didn’t go according to plan. Some pundits were critical of his role, as India suffered back-to-back Test series losses to New Zealand and Australia. Red-ball coaching is a different thing and Nayar, without any coaching experience in first-class cricket, was found out. As the BCCI conducted a review meeting after the disaster Down Under and decided to bring in Sitanshu Kotak as the Indian team’s batting coach, Nayar’s fate was all but sealed.
When two Mumbaikars meet in @KKRiders colours during the practice session at Eden Gardens. pic.twitter.com/aEFBN3Xw9n
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) April 19, 2025
T20 cricket, KKR to be precise, however, is Nayar’s natural habitat. Also, his return will excite the Indian core of the team. At the nets on Saturday, Rinku readily turned to him and the two had a lengthy conversation. Manish Pandey joined them after a while. Brief chats with head coach Chandrakant Pandit and captain Ajinkya Rahane ensued.
Five wins from their remaining seven group league matches might take KKR to the playoffs. Nayar’s presence in the dressing room is expected to help an underperforming batting unit.
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