‘BCCI agreed to most of the things I have asked for’ – Gautam Gambhir on support staff appointments

Gautam Gambhir, Ryan Ten Doeschate and Abhishek Nayar (Source:twitter)

The newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir confirmed Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate as assistant coaches for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. This announcement came during Gambhir’s first press conference in Mumbai after taking over the responsibility earlier this month.

The appointment of Nayar and Ten Doeschate marks a reunion of sorts, as the trio recently worked together during Kolkata Knight Riders’ successful campaign in IPL 2024.

Their collaboration led to KKR clinching their first title in a decade, a feat that undoubtedly influenced Gambhir’s decision to bring them into the national setup.

“But people like Ryan (Ten Doeschate) and Abhishek (Nayar) are someone I’ve worked with. I’ve got some really good feedback from the players as well about the other guys as well. T Dilip will continue as fielding coach. Sairaj Bahutule as interim bowling coach for the Sri Lanka tour,” Gambhir said.

Gambhir, who took over from Dravid following India’s triumph at the 2024 T20 World Cup, expressed his satisfaction with the BCCI’s support.

“Really happy. The BCCI. They have agreed to most of the things I have asked for. I keep reading this stuff.  The crux of the support staff will remain as they are. The rest of the staff will be finalized after the Sri Lanka tour,” Gambhir added.

Also read: Gautam Gambhir in his maiden presser as head coach

The new coaching setup faces an immediate challenge with the Sri Lanka tour, including three T20Is and three ODIs, beginning on July 27. This series kicks off a packed international schedule for India, including a home series against Bangladesh and New Zealand, followed by a five-match Test series in Australia later in the year.

Nayar, a former India all-rounder with a wealth of domestic cricket experience, brings valuable insights to the team. His mentoring skills, having previously worked with players like Dinesh Karthik Varun Chakravarthy, and Rinku Singh, could prove crucial in nurturing young talent.

Also read: Ajit Agarkar gives clarity over Hardik Pandya’s T20I captaincy

Ten Doeschate, the former Netherlands all-rounder, adds an international perspective and recent coaching experience from his stint with Los Angeles Knight Riders in Major League Cricket.