India’s new head coach, Gautam Gambhir, has confirmed that Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate will join his coaching staff as assistant coaches for the upcoming white-ball tour of Sri Lanka. The pair, who recently helped lead Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL 2024 title, will begin their roles with the national team starting July 27. The tour includes three ODIs and three T20Is against Sri Lanka.
The coaching team will also feature T Dilip, who remains as the fielding coach after his successful tenure under Rahul Dravid. Known for his effective fielding drills and team bonding exercises, Dilip is valued for fostering a positive environment. Sairaj Bahutule from the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru will be the interim bowling coach for this series.
During a media briefing, Gambhir expressed his excitement about working with Nayar and ten Doeschate. He noted their professionalism and his positive experience collaborating with them in the IPL. Gambhir emphasized that the goal is to maintain a happy and winning dressing room while maximizing players’ potential.
He also mentioned that while the support staff’s exact composition will be finalized after the Sri Lanka tour, the current focus is on a balanced approach with assistant coaches handling various aspects of the team. Gambhir appreciated the BCCI’s support in fulfilling his requests for the coaching setup.