New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to streamline the Indian men’s cricket team’s support staff by likely removing assistant coach Abhishek Nayar, fielding coach T. Dilip, and strength and conditioning coach Soham Desai. This decision follows internal discussions within the BCCI about the size and effectiveness of the coaching group, particularly in light of India’s disappointing Test series defeat in Australia.
Abhishek Nayar joined the Indian team as assistant coach in July 2024 after his tenure with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). T. Dilip and Soham Desai have been integral parts of the setup since November 2021 and October 2020 respectively. Alongside these three, an unnamed team masseur has also reportedly been removed from the national team setup.
The intent behind these moves is to create a leaner, more efficient support staff rather than to criticize the individual coaches’ abilities. Sources emphasize that Nayar, Dilip, and Desai have contributed significantly to Indian cricket, including being part of the team that secured an unbeaten triumph in the 2025 Champions Trophy in Dubai. For instance, players like KL Rahul have publicly credited Nayar for instilling a successful mindset in white-ball cricket formats, while Dilip’s impact on elevating India’s fielding standards has been widely recognized.
Following the overhaul, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak and assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate will absorb the responsibilities previously handled by Nayar and Dilip. Ten Doeschate, who served as the fielding coach for KKR alongside head coach Gautam Gambhir before the latter’s move to the Indian team, will take a more prominent fielding role.
For Soham Desai’s role as strength and conditioning coach, the BCCI is considering the return of Adrian Le Roux, who previously contributed to the Indian team during 2002-2003 and is currently with Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League. Le Roux is credited with modernizing fitness standards during his earlier stint with India.
This restructuring signals a strategic refocus ahead of India’s upcoming five-match Test series tour of England, scheduled to begin on June 20, 2025.
