IPL 2025: Abhishek Nayar reunites with KKR days after getting sacked as India's assistant coach

Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar has reunited with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and could be seen in the defending champions' dugout in their upcoming home game against Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Eden Gardens on Monday, April 21.

When Gautam Gambhir was appointed as the head coach of the Indian team last year, Nayar was also signed as the assistant coach of the Men in Blue. Both of them played pivotal roles behind the scenes as KKR lifted the Indian Premier League (IPL) title last year. While Gambhir was the mentor of the Kolkata-based franchise, Nayar served as the assistant coach.

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Gambhir and Nayar worked in unison alongside other staff members and helped India win the Champions Trophy after 12 years. They have also given opportunities to youngsters in T20Is and the move has paid dividends. Under Suryakumar Yadav, India's T20 side is formidable in all conditions. However, in Test cricket, there have been some glaring shortcomings.

India were whitewashed by New Zealand in a home Test series last year. The Rohit Sharma-led side also handed over the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after losing 1-3 in a five-match Test series against Australia Down Under.

After the debacles in the Test format, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided to remove three members of the support staff. Apart from Nayar, fielding coach T Dilip and strength and conditioning coach Sohum Desai were shown the door.

Nayar has helped the likes of Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, and Rinku Singh rediscover their form at various levels of the game. His addition will come as a shot in the arm for the Knights, who are struggling to perform consistently in IPL 2025. They have three wins and four defeats from seven games this season and will need to come out all guns blazing from hereon was the race to the playoffs intensifies.