Abhishek Nayar, who recently faced an abrupt end to his tenure as the assistant coach of Team India, has made a swift comeback to the Indian Premier League (IPL) circuit. Following his dismissal from the BCCI setup, Nayar has rejoined the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and also taken up the role of mentor for the Women’s Premier League (WPL) franchise UP Warriorz. Interestingly, the news of his return to KKR surfaced even before the official confirmation of his exit from the Indian team.

Despite his departure, Nayar’s contributions to Team India were appreciated, with batter KL Rahul crediting him for shaping his role as a white-ball batter. Speaking about his return to KKR, Nayar expressed deep emotional ties with the franchise. “KKR is family to me. The speed at which I came back to the team shows that’s where I belong. This is an opportunity I am very excited about,” he said in an interaction with PTI.

Apart from his IPL responsibilities, Nayar will also serve as the mentor for UP Warriorz in the WPL. The former Mumbai cricketer is eager to contribute to the growth of women’s cricket, which he believes holds immense potential. “The goal is to create a culture where everyone understands this franchise plays to win trophies. WPL will significantly impact not just Indian cricket but also domestic cricket. The game has evolved, with players showcasing more power, athleticism, and faster throws. The growth is enormous and it’s not going to stop,” Nayar added.