IPL 2025: Abhishek Nayar Returns to KKR Coaching Staff After Team India Exit

Abhishek Nayar has made a return to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) coaching setup during the midway stage of IPL 2025, with the development confirmed on April 19. This comes in the wake of his recent exit as Team India’s assistant coach a decision taken by the BCCI after India’s underwhelming showing in the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) shared the news of Abhishek Nayar’s return through a post on X (formerly Twitter), calling it a homecoming. KKR are set to take on Gujarat Titans at Eden Gardens on April 21. Nayar is expected to join the team’s training session at the venue on April 19.

Abhishek Nayar is close to the heart of KKR; he was part of the support staff, along with Gautam Gambhir, when the team won the trophy in 2024. With the league stage becoming tougher and playoff berths at stake, his return might prove to be a significant boost for the team. Having a player like Nayar return around the corner could be a welcome sense of calm and direction in the dressing room particularly at this high-stress juncture in the tournament.

KKR are currently sitting in sixth place on the IPL 2025 points table with just three wins from their seven matches so far. Abhishek Nayar was originally expected to stay on as Team India’s assistant coach until the end of May, but after back-to-back Test series losses to New Zealand and Australia, the BCCI decided to make changes.

As part of those changes, Nayar, along with fielding coach T Dilip and strength and conditioning coach Soham Desai, were let go from their roles.