{"id":7240,"date":"2025-08-22T19:55:59","date_gmt":"2025-08-22T19:55:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/22\/bcci-continues-overhaul-of-indias-backroom-staff-from-pre-gautam-gambhir-era-cricket-news\/"},"modified":"2025-08-22T19:55:59","modified_gmt":"2025-08-22T19:55:59","slug":"bcci-continues-overhaul-of-indias-backroom-staff-from-pre-gautam-gambhir-era-cricket-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/22\/bcci-continues-overhaul-of-indias-backroom-staff-from-pre-gautam-gambhir-era-cricket-news\/","title":{"rendered":"BCCI Continues Overhaul Of India&#8217;s Backroom Staff From Pre-Gautam Gambhir Era | Cricket News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"story-9522575\">\n<p><span class=\"jsx-3cea4b2331e41d4a\">Last Updated:<\/span><time class=\"jsx-3cea4b2331e41d4a\">August 22, 2025, 23:34 IST<\/time><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"asubttl-9522575\" class=\"jsx-ff263f4b724d470d jsx-1821925726 asubttl-schema\">BCCI ends Rajeev Kumar&#8217;s decade-long stint as Indian team masseur, revamping staff from pre-Gautam Gambhir era.<\/h2>\n<div class=\"jsx-f62078ffd315d67c artsharwrp\">\n<div id=\"artshare\" class=\"jsx-f62078ffd315d67c artshare\">\n<div class=\"jsx-f62078ffd315d67c stickdiv\">\n<div class=\"jsx-f62078ffd315d67c deskwrapstkdiv\">\n<div class=\"jsx-f62078ffd315d67c flwonstk\"><a href=\"https:\/\/news18.co\/gnps-en-btn\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"margin:0 12px 0 0\" class=\"jsx-f62078ffd315d67c\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/dlxczavtqcctuei\/news18\/static\/images\/english\/gogole-serarch-btn.svg\" alt=\"Click to add News18 as a preferred source on Google\" title=\"Click to add News18 as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"94px\" height=\"30px\" style=\"vertical-align:top\" class=\"jsx-f62078ffd315d67c\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-f62078ffd315d67c fontchange\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/dlxczavtqcctuei\/news18\/static\/images\/english\/font.svg\" height=\"30px\" width=\"30px\" alt=\"font\" class=\"jsx-f62078ffd315d67c lazyload\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"jsx-ff263f4b724d470d jsx-1821925726 amimg\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Indian men's cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir (PTI)\" title=\"Indian men's cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir (PTI)\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/ibnlive\/uploads\/2021\/07\/1627283897_news18_logo-1200x800.jpg?impolicy=website&amp;width=400&amp;height=225\" loading=\"eager\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"jsx-ff263f4b724d470d jsx-1821925726\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Indian men&#8217;s cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir (PTI)<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p id=\"0\" class=\"story_para_0\">The Indian team has ended its long association with Rajeev Kumar, their longtime masseur, as the BCCI revamps its backroom staff from the pre-Gautam Gambhir era. Kumar, who served the team for over a decade, accompanied them on the recent England tour but will not receive a new contract.<\/p>\n<p id=\"1\" class=\"story_para_1\">Former batting coach Abhishek Nayar and longtime strength and conditioning coach Soham Desai have also been let go by the BCCI.<\/p>\n<h2>Why Rajeev Kumar Left?<\/h2>\n<p id=\"3\" class=\"story_para_3\">As per a report in PTI, an influential member of the Indian team\u2019s decision-making unit believes that support staff staying too long with the national team can lead to diminishing returns. There is a belief that longtime support staff may develop a comfort level with players, which could hinder the team\u2019s growth.<\/p>\n<p id=\"4\" class=\"story_para_4\">Rajeev Kumar, a trusted member of the support staff, was part of many significant tours and series, including India\u2019s recent trip to England.<\/p>\n<p id=\"5\" class=\"story_para_5\">\u201cThe Indian board has decided to discontinue with Rajeev\u2019s services. The Indian team had already appointed a masseur, which was recommended by team management before,&#8221; a source in the board was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.<\/p>\n<p id=\"6\" class=\"story_para_6\">Kumar, as per the report in TIE, was known for his approachability and was often seen near the boundary, smiling while monitoring the players. After long matches, cricketers often turned to him for help with stiff and sore muscles. His duties extended beyond massages; he prepared energy drinks, protein shakes, and electrolyte solutions, catering to individual preferences.<\/p>\n<p id=\"7\" class=\"story_para_7\">Kumar was also part of the group that collected balls outside the boundary during fielding sessions, aiding in keeping fielders fresh and maintaining over rates. He had a close bond with India\u2019s pace bowlers, who relied on him after exhausting spells.<\/p>\n<p id=\"8\" class=\"story_para_8\">Ryan ten Doeschate as assistant coach and Morne Morkel as bowling coach remain part of India\u2019s support staff, having arrived as part of Gambhir\u2019s backroom staff when he took over as the head coach of India in July 2024.<\/p>\n<p id=\"9\" class=\"story_para_9\">Earlier in January this year, former Saurashtra batter Sitanshu Kotak was named India\u2019s batting coach and is still in the role.<\/p>\n<p id=\"10\" class=\"story_para_10\"><em><strong>(With inputs from Agencies)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd atawrap\">\n<div class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd atadetailwrp\">\n<div class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd ataname\"><span class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd atthumb\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"authorimg\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/ibnlive\/uploads\/?impolicy=website&amp;width=60&amp;height=60\" class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd\"\/><\/figure>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd attitle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/byline\/ritayan-basu-16281.html\" class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd atamail\">Ritayan Basu<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket content, ha&#8230;<span class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd aurpdebtn\">Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket content, ha&#8230;<!-- --> <span class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd aurpdebtn\">Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-ff263f4b724d470d jsx-1821925726 brdcrmb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/\">News<\/a>  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/cricket\/\">cricket<\/a>  <span class=\"brdout\"> BCCI Continues Overhaul Of India&#8217;s Backroom Staff From Pre-Gautam Gambhir Era<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"coral-wrap\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f \">\n<div class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f coral-cont\">\n<div class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f coltoptxt\">Disclaimer: Comments reflect users\u2019 views, not News18\u2019s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/disclaimer\/\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f\">Terms of Use<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/privacy_policy\/\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f\">Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"jsx-ff263f4b724d470d jsx-1821925726 rmbtn news18_read_more\">Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/cricket\/bcci-continues-overhaul-of-indias-backroom-staff-from-pre-gautam-gambhir-era-ws-l-9522575.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last Updated:August 22, 2025, 23:34 IST BCCI ends Rajeev Kumar&#8217;s decade-long stint as Indian team masseur, revamping staff from pre-Gautam Gambhir era. Indian men&#8217;s cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir (PTI) The Indian team has ended its long association with Rajeev Kumar, their longtime masseur, as the BCCI revamps its backroom staff from the pre-Gautam&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7241,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7240","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cricket"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7240","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7240"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7240\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7241"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7240"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7240"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7240"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}