Indian board sacks three big names after dressing room leaks: reports

Following India's 3-1 defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, the Indian cricket dressing room has come under intense scrutiny — not only for the team's on-field performance but also amid a string of off-field controversies. After the team’s poor performance under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, a series of leaked reports emerged from within the camp, raising questions about discipline and internal unity.

Among the many rumours that surfaced after the series, one particularly shocking claim was that a player had expressed interest in becoming interim captain. A report alleged that head coach Gautam Gambhir had blamed middle-order batter Sarfaraz Khan for leaking dressing room conversations to the media, but the claim has not been officially verified.

Now, in a new twist, an Indian media outlet has reported that the BCCI has sacked assistant coach Abhishek Nayar, who joined the team only eight months ago. While there has been no official confirmation from the board yet, the move reportedly comes in response to the dressing room unrest and information leaks.

The same report also suggests that the BCCI has recently issued a notice stating that any support staff who have been with the national side for over three years could be relieved of their duties. Accordingly, fielding coach T. Dilip and trainer Soham Desai have also been removed from their roles.

In the wake of these changes, the BCCI has decided not to make fresh appointments for Nayar and Dilip's positions. Instead, domestic cricket veteran Sitanshu Kotak will continue his involvement with the team. The responsibilities of strength and conditioning coach will now fall to South Africa's Adrian Le Roux, who is currently associated with Punjab Kings in the IPL. Le Roux, who previously worked with Kolkata Knight Riders (2008–2019) and even had a short stint with Team India in 2002–03, is expected to join after the ongoing IPL season.

Meanwhile, head coach Gautam Gambhir addressed the ongoing unrest during a pre-match press conference, calling for internal matters to remain private. "Debates between coach and player should stay in the dressing room," Gambhir said, downplaying the reports as mere speculation.

He further emphasised the importance of honesty and performance in team dynamics. "Indian cricket will be in safe hands as long as honest people remain in the dressing room. The only thing that keeps you in the setup is performance," he stated. 

Gambhir also reiterated the need for a "team-first" approach, insisting that while players can express themselves, they must adapt to the team's needs when required.

As of now, fans await an official word from the BCCI, especially regarding the reported sacking of Abhishek Nayar and the reshuffling of the support staff.