Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have officially welcomed back Abhishek Nayar to their support staff, marking a swift return to franchise cricket just a day after news broke about the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) opting not to renew his contract with the national team.
Welcome back home, @abhisheknayar1 💜 pic.twitter.com/IwJQTnAWxa
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 19, 2025
His return to KKR comes even before the BCCI has made a formal announcement regarding his departure from the Indian team setup. Nayar had been serving as assistant coach to Gautam Gambhir with the Indian men’s team, a partnership that lasted close to 10 months. The duo had previously worked together at KKR, where Gambhir currently holds the role of mentor.
The BCCI’s decision to restructure its backroom staff has led to the exit of several members, including Nayar, fielding coach T Dilip, and strength and conditioning trainer Soham Desai. While no official explanation has been given for the shake-up, it signals a fresh direction ahead of India’s upcoming cricketing calendar.
For KKR, Nayar’s return brings back a familiar face with deep insights into the team’s culture and operations. Having been part of the franchise in previous seasons, his re-entry is expected to provide continuity and stability as the team builds momentum in the latter stages of the tournament.
