Following India's disastrous performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia, the BCCI has swung the axe on several key support staff members, signaling a major shake-up under new head coach Gautam Gambhir.
Who’s Out:
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Abhishek Nayar (Assistant Coach): Brought in just 8 months ago by Gambhir, Nayar's tenure ends abruptly despite being part of the Champions Trophy-winning backroom staff.
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T. Dilip (Fielding Coach): A long-serving member known for his animated celebrations, Dilip has also been let go.
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Soham Desai (Strength and Conditioning Coach): Responsible for the players' fitness and workload management, he’s now out.
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A team masseur has also reportedly been dismissed as part of this revamp.
Why the Sudden Overhaul?
India’s comprehensive defeat in the BGT — which included batting collapses and poor fielding displays — exposed glaring issues in performance, discipline, and preparation. Although the team won the Champions Trophy recently under Gambhir’s guidance, the red-ball format remains the ultimate test, and the BCCI seems determined to rectify the structure before the upcoming England series.
Who's Still In:
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Ryan ten Doeschate: Will now take over fielding responsibilities temporarily.
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Morne Morkel (Bowling Coach): Retains his position.
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Sitanshu Kotak (Batting Coach): Will continue in the white-ball format but might be given an expanded role for red-ball duties too.
What’s Next?
With a five-match Test series against England starting June 20, time is ticking for the BCCI to:
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Appoint permanent replacements for Nayar and Dilip.
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Rebuild team confidence after a morale-shattering overseas loss.
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Ensure the backroom unit is better aligned to handle the demands of Test cricket.
This sudden clean-up also puts Gambhir’s long-term vision under scrutiny. While he has brought in familiar faces from his KKR days, the stakes are much higher in the international setup. The upcoming England series could prove to be a defining chapter for Gambhir’s tenure — and for India’s Test future.
