Abhishek Nayar and two ex-KKR stars to join Indian coaching staff, T Dilip retained as fielding coach

While the BCCI has already unveiled Team India's new head coach, it is yet to announce the other members of the support staff.

Rahul Dravid stepped down as the head coach last month after his tenure came to an end following the conclusion of the T20 World Cup. Along with him, Paras Mhambrey (bowling coach), Vikram Rathour (batting coach), and T. Dilip (fielding coach), stepped down as well.

It was expected that the BCCI would be announcing the names of the new support staff members soon after appointing Gautam Gambhir as the head coach last week. However. the BCCI is yet to do so. Recently reports stated that the BCCI might make the announcements after the tour of Sri Lanka and that members of the National Cricket Academy will be accompanying Gambhir for the series.

Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate to join India head coach Gautam Gambhir:

While the BCCI is yet to announce the name of the support staff members, Cricbuzz has reported that the board has all but finalized the other members of the Indian coaching staff. As per the report, former India allrounder Abhishek Nayar and former Netherlands captain Ryan ten Doeschate are set to join Gambhir in the backroom staff.

On the other hand, T. Dilip has been retained as the fielding coach. The report stated that apart from being a very good fielding coach, Dilip has also earned the reputation of being good at team bonding exercises. The news outlet stated that Nayar and ten Doeschate have been appointed as the assistant coaches. It also stated that former South Africa pacer Morne Morkel is a strong candidate for the bowling coach's post.

All three - Nayar, ten Doeschate, and Morkel - have worked with Gautam Gambhir in the past. Morkel and ten Doeschate have also played under the captaincy of the former India opener in the Indian Premier League. Nayar and ten Doeschate worked with him at Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2024 while Morkel worked with the India head coach at Lucknow Super Giants for two years.

Ten Doeschate and Morkel's appointment will also be a big change in the Indian dressing room. In recent years, the BCCI has only appointed Indian coaches. A recent report also stated that Gambhir wanted Jonty Rhodes as a fielding coach but his request was turned down only because the BCCI wanted Indian coaches. However, the board seems to have changed its policy.

Meanwhile, Nayar and Dilip are expected to travel with the Indian team to Sri Lanka on Monday (July 22). On the other hand, it is still not clear when and how ten Doeschate will link up with the side. The Netherlands great is currently in the US as part of the coaching staff for the LA Knight Riders in the ongoing Major League Cricket (MLC). There are no updates on Morkel as of now either.