BCCI sacks Gautam Gambhir's support staff member after Asia Cup squad announcement

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made the decision to part ways with a key member of the Gautam Gambhir-led support staff, as per a report in the Indian Express.

This development of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) axing a veteran member of the support staff comes days after the announcement of the India squad for the Asia Cup 2025.

BCCI shows the door to a long-time support staff member

Since Gautam Gambhir took over as the head coach of the India National Cricket Team, the BCCI has parted ways with several support staff members.

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The likes of Abhishek Nayar, Arun Kanade, Soham Desai, and T Dilip have been let go by the Board of Control for Cricket in India. However, they were forced to make a U-turn and bring back T Dilip as fielding coach because there was no other suitable candidate for the role. Also, Soham Desai rejected a contract extension.

Now, the BCCI has parted ways with long-time team masseur Rajeev Kumar, according to the report. He shared an excellent rapport with most of the team members, but especially the pacers.

He served as the team masseur for India for nearly 15 years, but now he has been removed, and a new masseur has been brought in at the recommendation of team management.

“The Indian board has decided to discontinue with Rajeev’s services. The Indian team had already appointed a masseur, who was recommended by team management before,” a source in the board said, as quoted by the Indian Express.

India squad for Asia Cup announced, Shreyaa Iyer snubbed

The India squad for the Asia Cup 2025, which will be played from September 9 to 28, was announced a few days back by the BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar.

The biggest surprise coming out of the squad announcement was the non-selection of the star batsman Shreyas Iyer, who is at the peak of his powers.

He was India's leading run-getter, with 243 runs at an average of 48.6, in the Champion Trophy 2025, and Punjab Kings' highest run-scorer in IPL 2025, with 604 runs at an average of 50.33 and a strike rate of 175.07.

India is spoilt for choices - Farvez Maharoof

Talking about the squad, former Sri Lanka player Farvez Maharoof said that Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer did nothing wrong to be snubbed and added that India are just spoilt for choices.

“India is spoilt for choices. (Ajit) Agarkar (chairman of selectors) is just too straightforward. These two guys haven't done wrong. One (Jaiswal) takes on the bowlers from ball one, while the other is a leader of men. The system in India to produce players is fantastic,” Maharoof said, as quoted by PTI.

“Going into the Asia Cup, India is the favourite, looking at the side that they have picked, they have got all the bases covered,” he said.

“Hardik Pandya, on his day, is a match-winner. We saw that in the T20 World Cup in West Indies, we saw it in the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka (2023), whenever he performed well India have done well. For me in this side, Hardik Pandya can make the difference," he added.

Also Read: Virender Sehwag drops colossal remarks on ‘captain’ Suryakumar Yadav, predicts India’s Asia Cup 2025 fate