"..Looked at Anything as Opportunities" – Former India Coach Breaks Silence on Possible KKR Return After BCCI Sacking

Abhishek Nayar, who had a tough time as the assistant coach of Team India, has returned to the IPL after being removed by the BCCI. Nayar has rejoined Kolkata Knight Riders and has also agreed to mentor the WPL team UP Warriorz. Surprisingly, the news about his return to KKR came out even before his removal from the Indian team was officially confirmed.

While he was unfortunately sacked, Nayar's contribution to the Indian team was not ignored. Batter KL Rahul credited him for helping improve his game in the white-ball format. However, even before Nayar's removal from the Indian team was officially confirmed, the news of him rejoining KKR became public.

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Nayar Calls KKR His Family

Speaking about his return to the IPL, Abhishek Nayar said the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) franchise feels like a family to him. That’s why he didn’t think twice before making a quick return. 

"KKR is family to me. Everyone talks a lot about teams being like family, but for me, it truly is. The speed at which I came back shows that this is where I belong," Nayar said.

"I've always seen everything as an opportunity. This is another one, and I'm very excited about it," he told PTI.

Excited to Mentor UP Warriorz in WPL

Nayar has also taken on a new role as a mentor for the Women's Premier League (WPL) team, UP Warriorz. He is looking forward to helping the team grow and build a winning culture.

"The goal is to create a strong culture where everyone understands that this team plays to win trophies. I want to bring that mindset into our system," he said.

Nayar added that the WPL has the power to change Indian women’s cricket in a big way.

"WPL will impact not just Indian cricket but also domestic cricket. In the first season, many players looked like touch players. But now, there’s more power in the game. The girls are diving, the throws are flatter and faster. There’s huge growth, and it’s only going to get better," he added.