The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has fired Abhishek Nayar from his role as assistant coach for the Indian cricket team. The firing comes just eight months after he was hired. Although India's recent defeats in Test series against New Zealand and Australia are thought to be the primary causes, internal team problems might have been a greater cause.
Internal Issues Allegedly Behind the Move
Nair allegedly left after a brawl with a senior member of the support staff. A senior player and a member of the coaching staff had a power struggle, and Nair could have been taken as the scapegoat. There was a review meeting conducted by Secretary Devajit Saikia and Vice President Rajiv Shukla after the Australia tour. Major team members and selectors were present for the meeting.
During this session, a member of the support staff was said to have told that Nair's presence in the dressing room felt uncomfortable. While nothing was done immediately, the BCCI went ahead to appoint former cricketer Sitanshu Kotak as batting coach later on, suggesting a move away from Nair's presence.
Nair's Appointment and Role in Team India
Nair joined the national team setup after having worked with the Kolkata Knight Riders under Gautam Gambhir's mentorship. Gambhir was appointed as the head coach of Team India and Nair was appointed by him. It has been said, however, that Gambhir did not personally make his appointment.
Instead, Nair was to serve as a communication bridge between Gambhir and team captain Rohit Sharma. Nair and Rohit are personally close to each other, having shared the experience of playing in Mumbai. Aside from fielding coach T. Dilip, Nair was also personally close to the Indian captain. There are also reports that Nair might have been leaking dressing room details during the Australian tour.
Support Staff Changes Underway
With the dismissal of Nair, the BCCI has already started re-shuffling the support staff. Fielding coach T. Dilip and strength and conditioning coach Soham Desai also have been in the role for over three years. Under new BCCI rules, the support staff members are allowed only up to three years.
There have been indications that Adrian Le Roux, India's erstwhile strength and conditioning coach, will also be returning as part of the new arrangement.
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