Following India’s 3-1 Test series defeat in the Border Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly preparing to make significant changes to the national team’s support staff. According to sources, the board is set to sack three key members from Gautam Gambhir’s coaching setup amid concerns over dressing room leaks and internal unrest.

Assistant coach Abhishek Nayar likely to be removed

Abhishek Nayar, who joined as assistant coach just eight months ago, is reportedly on the way out. Despite being a respected name in the domestic circuit and within the team management, Nayar is expected to be relieved of his duties. The move comes amidst a wave of reports suggesting internal tensions and leaks from the Indian dressing room following the recent series defeat.

While there has been no official confirmation from the BCCI, insiders have revealed that the board had issued a directive indicating that support staff members who have been with the team for over three years may be released. In line with this, fielding coach T Dilip and strength and conditioning trainer Soham Desai are also likely to be removed.

No replacements for Nayar and Dilip; Kotak and Doeschate to step up

Reports indicate that the board will not appoint direct replacements for Nayar and Dilip. Instead, Sitanshu Kotak, a stalwart of the domestic game who is already part of the team’s coaching structure, is expected to assume broader responsibilities. Former Netherlands cricketer Ryan ten Doeschate will take over fielding duties.

Meanwhile, South African fitness expert Adrian Le Roux is likely to take over Desai’s role post-IPL. Le Roux, currently associated with Punjab Kings, has a long history in cricket fitness roles, including previous stints with Kolkata Knight Riders (2008–2019) and the Indian team (2002–2003).

Gautam Gambhir addresses unrest, calls for unity and performance

In the midst of the controversy, India head coach Gautam Gambhir has attempted to downplay the unrest within the team. Speaking to the media, Gambhir emphasized the importance of keeping dressing room discussions private and reaffirmed his commitment to honest and performance-driven team culture.

“Debates between coach and player should remain in the dressing room,” said Gambhir, denying the authenticity of the leaked reports. “There were honest words, and honesty is important. Indian cricket will be in safe hands as long as honest people stay in the dressing room,” he added.

He reiterated the value of a “team first” mindset, underlining that while individual flair is appreciated, the team’s needs must take precedence.

Emerging Indian Premier League (IPL) star Digvesh Rathi has become one of the standout performers for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the ongoing season. Known for his disciplined spin bowling and distinctive notebook-style celebration, Rathi’s journey to the big stage is a testament to perseverance in the face of adversity.

No backing, no wealth – just raw grit

Hailing from Delhi, Rathi’s path to professional cricket was anything but easy. His brother, Sunny, who works as a police constable at the Mandoli Prison Complex, recalled how the family struggled financially and was even advised to relocate due to the hardships. “Digvesh had no godfather, we had no money or influence. We were advised to move out of Delhi. Par bhag kyun jaye (but why would we run away)?” Sunny shared.

Despite the odds, Digvesh remained determined. Originally starting out as a batter, he transitioned into spin bowling due to limited opportunities at practice nets. Inspired by West Indian spinner Sunil Narine, Rathi moulded his technique and style after his idol, eventually catching attention with his skills.

Rejection and recognition

Sunny further revealed how local players ignored Digvesh during matches. “When it was his turn to bat, bowlers avoided him as he wasn’t a known name. Even when he played good strokes, their ego was hurt. Players didn’t want to waste their own cricket balls on him. I would bowl to him for hours, but one bowler isn’t enough to train properly,” he said.

His turning point came when former India wicketkeeper Vijay Dahiya spotted him and invited him to train at his academy. Later, Digvesh’s performance in the Delhi Premier League — where he bagged 14 wickets for South Delhi Superstarz — proved to be his breakthrough.

From struggles to IPL fame

Now playing for LSG after being picked up for ₹30 lakh, Digvesh has made a strong impression in his debut season. While his notebook celebration attracted both fanfare and a fine from the BCCI, his journey continues to inspire aspiring cricketers across the country.

In a dramatic low-scoring IPL 2025 encounter between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at New Chandigarh, PBKS pacer Xavier Bartlett committed an embarrassing fielding blunder that added insult to injury for the home side. The error came during KKR’s chase of a modest 112-run target and became the talk of the match on social media.

While fielding at fine-leg, Australian fast bowler Xavier Bartlett collected the ball comfortably, only to let it slip from his hands during the throw. The ball then rolled past him to the boundary, resulting in four runs. Due to the nature of the error—occurring after a clean collection—the umpires awarded it as an overthrow. With KKR batters Venkatesh Iyer and Angkrish Raghuvanshi already completing a single, the team ended up with five runs from the mishap.

PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer appeared visibly displeased, as Bartlett’s lapse summed up a disappointing outing in the field.

Earlier, defending champions KKR showcased their bowling prowess by bundling out PBKS for just 111 in 15.3 overs. The home team, despite an aggressive start from openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh, faltered quickly under pressure.

Harshit Rana’s pace proved decisive, as he removed both Priyansh and Shreyas Iyer in the same over. Ramandeep Singh’s sharp fielding also played a key role in keeping PBKS under check. Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine, and Anrich Nortje then continued the damage, leaving PBKS reeling at 86/8 within 11 overs.

Shashank Singh (18) and Bartlett (11) offered slight resistance, but it wasn’t enough to lift the score past 111.

KKR’s bowling unit delivered clinical performances, with Harshit finishing with 3/25, Varun 2/21, and Narine 2/14. Vaibhav Arora and Nortje chipped in with a wicket each.

The internet was quick to react to Bartlett’s blunder, with many users calling it one of the worst fielding errors of the season. Comments such as “Even a child won’t make such mistake” surfaced widely, adding a touch of humour to an otherwise forgettable match for PBKS.