KKR appoints Abhishek Nayar at Eden Gardens to guide batters ahead of the Gujarat Titans clash.
Abhishek Nayar Joins KKR Camp Early to Bolster Batting Ahead of Crucial Clash
Abhishek Nayar has rejoined the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) support staff even before the BCCI officially confirmed his release as Team India’s assistant coach—just nine months into his contract.
The move comes after KKR’s batting collapse in their previous match, where they were skittled out for 95 while chasing a modest 112 against Punjab Kings. With six points from seven matches, the defending champions must win at least five of their remaining seven games to keep playoff hopes alive.
As reported by The Telegraph, the BCCI had already informed Nayar, along with fielding coach T. Dilip and strength & conditioning trainer Soham Desai, that their services would no longer be required.
Nayar, who has long-standing ties with KKR—having previously headed their Mumbai academy—lost no time getting to work. Arriving in Kolkata late Saturday afternoon, he attended the training session at Eden Gardens the same day. After brief discussions with captain Ajinkya Rahane and head coach Chandrakant Pandit, Nayar took charge, closely monitoring the batting drills of vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer and Rinku Singh. He was also seen advising Ramandeep Singh on Venkatesh’s stance and backlift.
Grassy Pitch Adds to KKR’s Concerns
Meanwhile, the Eden Gardens pitch for Monday’s clash against Gujarat Titans retained a noticeable grass cover as of Saturday evening, raising eyebrows in the KKR camp. Curator Sujan Mukherjee stated that two pitches were prepared, with a final decision pending. “If the grass grows too much due to the heat, we’ll trim it slightly,” he said.
However, the surface conditions are unlikely to please KKR’s think-tank, adding another layer of challenge to their must-win fixture.
