Thursday (April 17) began on a groundbreaking note, with the BCCI axing Abhishek Nayar from his role as Team India’s assistant coach. This came after India failed to qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final for the first time and lost the BGT series after almost a decade. Apart from this, there have been various updates on the upcoming BCCI Central Contract list for players, with Abhishek Sharma and Axar Patel likely to get promotions. Meanwhile, was Nayar axed due to a rift in the Indian team? And why is Ishan Kishan in trouble? Catch all this and more below.
Fight in the Indian Team?
Abhishek Nayar’s sacking as Team India’s assistant coach has lit up major controversy, with reports suggesting a dressing room rift may have played a role. According to sources, Nayar became a scapegoat in a power struggle between a senior player and key support staff. Concerns over Nayar’s influence in the dressing room were raised in a BCCI review meeting, with some feeling his presence was “counter-productive.” Read more here.
Good news for Abhishek Sharma?
The BCCI is set to announce central contracts for the 2025-26 season, likely including three new players: Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Harshit Rana. All three have made recent debuts for India. Abhishek Sharma and Nitish Kumar Reddy qualify based on match criteria, while Harshit Rana’s inclusion might be due to his performances across formats. Varun Chakaravarthy and Shreyas Iyer are also expected to return to the contracts list after contributing to India’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 win. This is a massive news for Abhishek Sharma, who seems to be a permanent member for India, especially in T20Is. Read more here.
Poor by Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan’s return to the Wankhede Stadium ended in disappointment as he managed just 2 runs off 3 balls against his former team Mumbai Indians. This latest setback continues Kishan’s struggles in IPL 2025, where he’s yet to find his rhythm. Despite MI’s hefty investment of Rs 15.25 crore in 2022, Kishan has consistently underwhelmed. With a career average of 28.81 and a strike rate of 137.91 in the IPL. Excluding his century in SRH’s first match, Ishan Kishan has managed only 32 runs in 34 balls in the remaining 6 innings at IPL 2025. Read more here.
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Glenn Phillips’ replacement by GT
Former Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka is set to join the Gujarat Titans (GT) as a replacement for injured Glenn Phillips, despite going unsold in the IPL 2025 auction. Shanaka had a brief, unimpressive stint with GT in 2023, playing three matches and scoring 26 runs. However, his experience in T20 leagues, where he’s scored decently and taken 38 wickets, could benefit GT. Interestingly, Shanaka was recently part of Delhi Capitals’ preparatory camp, making his joining GT a surprise move. Read more here.
Deserving promotion for Axar, Kuldeep
The BCCI is set to announce central contracts soon, with Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav likely to be promoted to Grade A, from B, earning ₹5 crore annually. Their impressive performances in recent ICC tournaments, including the T20 World Cup 2024 and ICC Champions Trophy 2025, have made a strong case for their promotion. Shreyas Iyer might also get a contract in category B. Ravichandran Ashwin might be moved out of Grade B due to his retirement. Read more here.
SKY, Shreyas compulsory for new T20 tourney
The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has made it mandatory for Indian players from Mumbai to participate in the T20 Mumbai League, unless they have India commitments or injury issues. Rohit Sharma has been named the “Face of the League”. Players like Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, and Shivam Dube will receive ₹15 lakh as a participation fee, plus earn from auction fees. The league is set to begin on May 26 and will feature 2,800 registered players. The MCA aims to nurture the next generation of cricket stars in Mumbai. Read more here.
