Cricket

Former India all-rounder Abhishek Nayar is reportedly set to become India's new assistant coach under newly-appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir. Gambhir, who mentored Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to the 2024 IPL title, is said to be impressed with Nayar's work as an assistant coach at the franchise since 2018.Nayar's strong relationship with India's ODI and Test captain Rohit Sharma is also seen as a factor in his potential appointment. In the past, wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik and leg-spinner Varun Chakravarthy have praised Nayar's coaching methods.KKR head coach Chandrakant Pandit has lauded Nayar's contribution to the team's IPL triumph, highlighting his work with domestic players throughout the year. Nayar has also played a mentoring role for youngsters like Shreyas Iyer, both in the Mumbai team and at KKR.Meanwhile, reports suggest that the BCCI is considering India's pace bowling great Zaheer Khan as the men's team's new bowling coach. Gambhir is believed to have proposed former India speedster Vinay Kumar for the role, with L Balaji also being an option.One member of Rahul Dravid's outgoing staff, fielding coach T Dilip, could be retained under Gambhir's leadership.

Gautam Gambhir, a former Indian cricketer and current mentor of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) franchise, has reportedly expressed his desire to appoint Abhishek Nayar as his assistant coach if he is appointed as the next head coach of Team India.Gambhir, who is considered a frontrunner to replace Rahul Dravid, has a close working relationship with Nayar, who currently serves as his assistant coach at KKR. The duo has reportedly reached a verbal agreement to continue their partnership at the national level.Nayar, a former India ODI player, brings a wealth of experience to the table. He has played a key role in KKR's success, helping the franchise win three IPL titles. He also holds the position of director at the KKR academy.Gambhir's desire to bring Nayar on board as his assistant coach is a testament to their strong working relationship and shared vision for Indian cricket. Nayar's experience and expertise would complement Gambhir's leadership and strategic thinking.However, Gambhir has remained tight-lipped about his prospects of becoming the national team's coach. When asked about it last month, he said, "I don't see that far ahead. It is difficult to answer right now. All I can say is that I'm happy being here, just finished a brilliant journey (and) let's enjoy that. I'm in a very happy space right now."Despite his reluctance to discuss his coaching ambitions, Gambhir's desire to bring Nayar on board as his assistant coach is a clear indication of his plans for the future. If he is appointed as the head coach of Team India, Nayar is expected to play a key role in shaping the team's fortunes.

Rohit Sharma's journey to becoming one of the world's premier batters has been marked by challenges and triumphs. After making waves in the domestic circuit and winning the T20 World Cup in 2007, Rohit's performances dipped, leading to his omission from the 2011 ODI World Cup squad.This setback proved to be a turning point for Rohit. Determined to regain his place in the team, he embarked on a rigorous fitness regimen. Kolkata Knight Riders assistant coach Abhishek Nayar played a pivotal role in motivating Rohit to transform his physique.Nayar recalled an incident that sparked Rohit's determination. "When Rohit was not picked for the 2011 World Cup, I told him to work hard because he had gained weight," Nayar said. "There was an ad that showed Rohit and Yuvraj Singh standing, with a circle marked around Rohit's tummy. Rohit said he had to change that perception."After the World Cup announcement, Rohit's approach to his career underwent a dramatic shift. He became known as "Hitman" due to his aggressive batting style and unwavering determination."People used to say a lot of things about him, like 'two-minute Maggi-man,'" Nayar added. "But he said to me, 'I'll do whatever you say, but when the IPL gets over, people should say he is not the same Rohit Sharma.'"Rohit's hard work and dedication paid off. He established himself as a key member of the Indian team, leading them to victory in the 2013 Champions Trophy and the 2019 ODI World Cup. He also became the first Indian to score three double centuries in ODIs.Rohit's transformation serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes and anyone facing adversity. It demonstrates the power of perseverance, determination, and the ability to overcome challenges to achieve success.

Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) triumph in the 2024 IPL Final has brought accolades to the likes of Gautam Gambhir, Shah Rukh Khan, Sunil Narine, and Andre Russell. However, amidst the fanfare, one unsung hero has emerged: assistant coach Abhishek Nayar.Nayar's role in KKR's success was acknowledged by players Varun Chakravarthy and Venkatesh Iyer during an interview with Harsha Bhogle. Chakravarthy hailed Nayar as "the main guy behind" the team's Indian core, which has been instrumental in their victory.This Indian core has been a force to reckon with. Chakravarthy claimed 21 wickets, while Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora contributed 19 and 11 wickets, respectively. Venkatesh Iyer amassed 370 runs, and teenage sensation Angkrish Raghuvanshi made a memorable debut with a half-century. Ramandeep Singh also impressed with his contributions lower down the order.Iyer, who played a crucial role in the IPL Final with a 26-ball 52, echoed Chakravarthy's sentiments. "Abhishek Nayar deserves all the credit in the world," he said. "Some of his contributions go unnoticed, I want to make sure it doesn't."Nayar's influence extends beyond the assistant coach role. He has also been a mentor and head coach of the KKR Academy, where he has nurtured young talents like Raghuvanshi. Raghuvanshi's father, Avneesh, expressed his gratitude to Nayar on Instagram, acknowledging his commitment to developing Angkrish as both a cricketer and a person.While the spotlight may shine brightly on Gambhir and the star-studded KKR backroom, the players have ensured that unsung heroes like Nayar receive their due recognition. Their contributions have been pivotal in KKR's third IPL title victory.

KKR CEO Dismisses Rohit Sharma's Exit Rumors, Calls Conversation with Nayar 'Mischief'Kolkata Knight Riders CEO Venky Mysore has downplayed the significance of a conversation between Rohit Sharma and Abhishek Nayar that sparked speculation about the former Mumbai Indians captain's potential departure from the franchise.In a podcast with RevSportz, Mysore clarified that the conversation was taken out of context and was an attempt to create mischief. "I didn't even know about it, I think it's just a storm in a teacup," he said. "They have been good friends since god knows how long and someone has done something there just to create some mischief."KKR initially posted the video of the conversation on their social media channels but later removed it, further fueling speculation among fans. However, Mysore confirmed that both Rohit and Nayar were discussing something else and that the video was taken down due to the noise in the background."Some people just have too much time on their hands," Mysore added.The conversation between Rohit and Nayar, which took place during MI's match against KKR on May 9, was not clearly audible due to the crowd noise. However, Rohit can be heard saying, "Ek ek cheez change ho raha hai...Woh unke upar hai...Jo bhi hai woh mera ghar hai bhai, woh temple jo hai na maine banwaya hai." The last audible line in the chat is "Bhai mera kya mera to ye last hai".Fans quickly reacted to the video, speculating that Rohit was talking about the MI captaincy and his potential departure from the franchise. However, Mysore's clarification has put those rumors to rest.Rohit and Nayar have a long-standing friendship dating back to their Mumbai domestic cricket days. Nayar is also credited with playing a significant role in Rohit's comeback into the Indian team after the 2011 ODI World Cup snub.