In the wake of a disheartening Test series defeat in Australia earlier this year, the Indian men’s cricket team is undergoing a significant reshuffle behind the scenes. The loss, which not only ended India’s decade-long hold on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy but also dashed hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship final, has reportedly prompted the BCCI to take decisive action.
According to sources, assistant coach Abhishek Nayar has been removed from his role just eight months after joining the coaching setup. While the board has not made an official announcement, confirmation is expected soon, especially with India gearing up for a five-Test series in England this June.
Reports indicate that the BCCI has issued notices stating that any support staff member who has completed more than three years with the team could face termination. As part of this reported move, fielding coach T Dilip — widely recognised for introducing the team’s innovative fielding medal concept — and strength and conditioning coach Soham Desai have also been let go.
The revamp has not entirely cleared the slate, though. Sitanshu Kotak, who has already been working with the team, remains in the setup, and Ryan ten Doeschate will continue in his assistant coach role.
Adrian le Roux, a seasoned sports scientist with past experience with the Indian team and various IPL franchises, is set to take over from Soham Desai after the conclusion of the IPL 2025. According to the report, his appointment is already finalised.
Although these staff changes are yet to be officially announced, insiders have confirmed that Abhishek Nayar, T Dilip and Soham Desai were informed of their exits last week. As things stand, the board does not plan to immediately appoint new replacements for the vacated positions.
Team India’s campaign in Australia had started with promise, securing a convincing win in Perth. However, the initial momentum quickly unraveled. The team suffered a heavy defeat in the pink-ball Test in Adelaide, followed by a drawn match in Brisbane. A crushing 184-run loss in Melbourne further derailed their hopes. With the series on the line, India failed to recover and succumbed to a six-wicket loss in Sydney, ending their run on a bitter note and reigniting concerns about their performance in overseas conditions.
With these internal shifts now in motion, all eyes will be on how the Indian team regroups and responds in the upcoming England series, where a fresh coaching dynamic will be closely watched.
