Coaching an elite player is about getting conversation right first up

Ex-India assistant coach Nayar talks about the constantly evolving demands of modern day coaching

- Rasesh Mandal

As cricket branched out to more formats and became equally competitive across genders, the scope for coaching grew manifold. Gone are the times when coaching the national or state team were the only avenues available to those with the aptitude and credentials.

You could be coaching an IPL franchise in the summer, having brainstormed with an elite athlete discussing ODI tactics, then put in place a customised camp to help another India player prepare for an overseas Test assignment, work with a local team in a T20 state offshoot, shift focus to women’s franchise cricket for their league and get back to do academy work for the mainstream men’s franchise. This is pretty much Abhishek Nayar’s coaching resume for 2025. His stint with the Indian cricket team was brief, but his problem-solving skills remain in high demand.

‘Nayar, whose tenure as India assistant coach ended with the Australia tour early this year, ‘was immediately welcomed back by Kolkata Knight Riders as assistant coach. The former India cricketer who has worked closely with Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Dinesh Karthik and others in an individual capacity, is also the head coach of UP Warriorz in the Women’s Premier League.