The Indian cricket team had a torrid run in the Tests against New Zealand & Australia in 2024-25. The side under the head coach Gautam Gambhir had a dreadful start to their red-ball tenure, losing 6 Tests out of 8. The assistant coach, Abhishek Nayar, has been shown the door by BCCI despite being appointed in July 2024.
BCCI had conducted an extensive review meeting after the BGT 2024-25 debacle. The Men in Blue had lost the Test series against Australia after being 1-0 up to 3-1 down, as the batters looked in all sorts of trouble in seaming conditions. There was a massive uproar from the fans & experts over the Indian batters’ technique. T Dilip, the fielding coach has been removed from the setup by BCCI as well.
Abhishek Nayar’s journey shortened
In the extensive meeting after BGT 2024-25, in the initial review meeting, there was skipper Rohit Sharma, chairman of selectors & BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, along with head coach Gautam Gambhir. India had lost their first Test series in India after 2012 against New Zealand, that too by 3-0, which hurt the billion people & later it also affected India’s WTC 2023-25 final hopes too.
We must not forget that Abhishek Nayar was handpicked by Gautam Gambhir. Gautam Gambhir & Abhishek Nayar worked together in coaching the staff of KKR in IPL 2024 and also won the championship for the third time after 2014. Along with Abhishek Nayar, Ryan ten Doeschate also came in India’s coaching staff on the recommendation of Gautam Gambhir
It’s quite perplexing to see that Ryan ten Doeschate & Abhishek Nayar both were the assistant coaches for New Zealand Tests & BGT 2024-25, and there was no batting coach in the setup. Even the legendary Sunil Gavaskar raised his voice during the New Zealand Tests & BGT 2024-25, that is what role Abhishek Nayar & Ryan ten Doeschate are playing.
During the India vs England white ball series in January, BCCI had roped in Sitanshu Kotak as the white ball batting coach. This was perhaps the sign that Sitanshu Kotak would be given the reins after ICC CT 2025, irrespective of the result. Sitanshu Kotak was earlier a part of the NCA in the capacity of batting coach. As of now, BCCI hasn’t named the batting coach.
India won the ICC CT 2025 & were undefeated, but Abhishek Nayar didn’t get any massive credit. KL Rahul, while playing a match winning knock for DC against RCB, pointed out that his game got improved because of Abhisek Nayar. Just before the start of IPL 2025, a report from News18 had come that Rohit Sharma will work closely with Abhishek Nayar to maintain his fitness and be fit for the ODI WC 2027.
Questions aplenty with BCCI’s review
Perhaps and somewhat, the ICC CT 2025 win safeguarded Gautam Gambhir’s head-coach post. Some reports also state that Abhishek Nayar was removed due to dressing room leaks, due to which there were reportedly differences between players. Rohit Sharma, who on AIR made it very clear that he chose to opt out of the 5th Test match for the betterment of the team, and refute the claims of made to sit on the bench.
Ryan ten Doeschate’s appointment till today is quite mysterious; given playing & coaching franchise cricket teams is another thing, and leading a national cricket team, that too of India, where a billion people breathe cricket and are crazy for ICC trophies.
New trainer for the Indian cricket team
In a major development BCCI have called back Adrian Le Roux as a trainer. The South African earlier in 2003 had signed a one year contract until ICC ODI WC 2023. Before that he was also a consultant for India team. Adrian Le Roux is all set to replace Soham Desai who has been the strength & conditioning coach for India since 2019.
Adrian, as of now, is with the Punjab Kings in IPL 2025 as the trainer. We must laud the decision of BCCI by reinstating Adrian Le Roux as the trainer, given the fact next ODI WC 2027 is in South Africa, Zimbabwe & Namibia. The 2003 ODI WC was also in South Africa; this looks like a strategic move by the richest board to get the players in the best shape ahead of the biggest white ball event.
Critical England Test series for Gautam Gambhir
India hasn’t won a Test series in England since 2007. The success of ICC CT 2025 was the biggest achievement for Gambhir so far, but England will most likely give a similar hostile reception to the Indian cricket team, just like Australia.
India’s last Test series assignment against England was quite a thrilling one, with the series being squared by 2-2. During BGT 2024-25, Gambhir received a lot of flak from fans for recommending and we can say giving preference to Harshit Rana, Devdutt Padikkal & Nitish Kumar Reddy in place of Shardul Thakur, Cheteshwar Pujara & Ajinkya Rahane. Nitish smashed a ton in the MCG test match, and Harshit Rana, along with Devdutt Padikkal was a part of the 1st Test match win, but that wasn’t of great help for India to defend BGT 2024-25 nor win it.
The sudden ouster of Sarfaraz Khan after the Kiwi Test matches was shocking. Sarfaraz in the opening Test against New Zealand had struck a ton but his failures in next 2 matches perhaps got highlighted more. Sarfaraz was on the sidelines the entire Australian Test series despite smashing tons of runs in the domestic circuit for years.
It won’t be wrong to say that Gambhir is the whole & soul of the Indian cricket team, who has got absolute power over the team combination and players that will be in the squad and playing 11. Only time will tell whether India can kick-start their ICC 2025-27 cycle in a grand fashion against England, or again we will hear that winning a Test series in England conditions isn’t that easy.