BCCI swings the axe on India's Top Support Staff; sends indirect message to Gautam Gambhir

The India National Cricket Team’s poor performance in Test cricket, especially against Australia and New Zealand, has led the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to make some shocking calls ahead of the team’s much-awaited England tour in June-July.

Despite lifting the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, several members of the India National Cricket Team’s coaching staff couldn’t save their jobs, and among them was head coach Gautam Gambhir’s favorite, Abhishek Nayar, who had been serving as the assistant coach for the last eight months.

BCCI sacks Abhishek Nayar, T Dilip, and Soham Desai

India’s embarrassing 3-1 Test series defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia, as well as the confidential dressing room news getting leaked to the media, has pushed the BCCI to take strong action. It is being said that the board launched an inquiry into several matters from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.

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According to a report by Dainik Jagran, the BCCI has removed three support staff members — assistant coach Abhishek Nayar, fielding coach T Dilip, and physical trainer Soham Desai — following the inquiry. The report claimed that Nayar, Dilip, and Soham lost their jobs because of the team’s disappointing performance as well as the issue of media leaks.

🚨 CHANGES IN INDIAN COACHING STAFF 🚨 [Abhishek Tripathi]

- One of the reason behind is the poor performance in BGT
- Assistant Coach Abhishek Nayar is likely to be removed.
- Fielding Coach T Dilip & Trainer Soham has been relieved from the duties as they completed more than 3… pic.twitter.com/q6kpSNlOqS

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) April 17, 2025

However, it is still unclear which staff member was responsible for the media leak during the Australia tour. Abhishek Nayar, who was part of KKR’s IPL 2024 title-winning support staff alongside Gautam Gambhir and Ryan ten Doeschate, has already been sacked from his role.

Also Read: BCCI locks decision on Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah's Central Contracts Grade

Adrian le Roux set to join Gautam Gambhir-headed Indian coaching staff

In a big relief, Gambhir retained his position as the team’s head coach, while the assistant coach, Ryan ten Doeschate, is expected to double up as the new fielding coach as well after Dilip’s removal as the fielding coach. So, for now, there will be no separate fielding coach for the national side.

Meanwhile, Adrian le Roux, former Indian and KKR physical trainer, will take over as physical trainer, replacing Soham Desai. Additionally, the BCCI is unlikely to appoint a new assistant coach for now, as Sitanshu Kotak has already been appointed as batting coach of the Indian cricket team.

-बीजीटी के खराब प्रदर्शन और ‘लीक्स’ पर बीसीसीआइ की कार्रवाई
- सहायक कोच अभिषेक नायर को हटाया गया
- तीन साल से ज्यादा होने के कारण ट्रेनर सोहम और फील्डिंग कोच टी. दिलीप की छुट्टी
- सोहम की जगह एड्रियन लि रू लेंगे https://t.co/R7ROyGAuih pic.twitter.com/Yp3ZGKFy32

— Abhishek Tripathi / अभिषेक त्रिपाठी (@abhishereporter) April 17, 2025

Both T Dilip and Soham Desai were part of the previous coaching setup headed by Rahul Dravid. That set was revamped after Dravid refused to extend his tenure as head coach after winning the T20 World Cup last year. As per a new BCCI rule, support staff serving for over three years are not eligible to continue their services, and both Dilip and Desai fall into this category.

BCCI's diktat relieves T Dilip and Soham Desai from their jobs

A Dainik Jagar report also suggested that Dilip and Soham have been relieved from their duties because they have completed more than three years in their roles. Well, the exact person behind the dressing room leaks hasn’t been confirmed yet, but a complaint made by a team management member during a review meeting after the BGT 2024-25 loss triggered this shakeup.

However, the BCCI has not yet made an official announcement on this matter, so there is currently no confirmation. The official announcement is likely to be made before the selectors name the squad for the upcoming five-match Test series in England.

Presently, the Indian support staff includes training assistant Raghavendra, Dayanand Garani, physiotherapist Kamlesh Jain, masseur Arun Kanade, Chetan Kumar, Rajiv Kumar, team operations manager Sumit Mallapurkar, a security manager, and a few others.

Also Read: Rohit Sharma's retirement date announced by Michael Clarke in front of Indian captain