Abhishek Nayar

Abhishek Nayar

Personal information
Full name	Abhishek Mohan Nayar
Born	(1983-10-08) 8 October 1983 Secunderabad, Telangana, India
Batting	Left-handed
Bowling	Right-arm Medium
Role	All-rounder
International information
National side	India (2009)
ODI debut (cap 178)	3 July 2009 v West Indies
Last ODI	30 September 2009 v West Indies
ODI shirt no.	24
Domestic team information
Years	Team
2005–2018	Mumbai
2008–2010	Mumbai Indians
2011–2012	Kings XI Punjab
2013	Pune Warriors India
2014–2015	Rajasthan Royals
2018	Pondicherry
Career statistics
Competition ODI FC LA T20 Matches 3 103 99 95 Runs scored 0 5,749 2,145 1,291 Batting average – 45.62 31.08 21.51 100s/50s 0/0 13/32 2/10 0/3 Top score 0* 259 118 79 Balls bowled 18 12,412 3,043 679 Wickets 0 173 79 27 Bowling average – 31.47 30.10 34.33 5 wickets in innings – 6 1 0 10 wickets in match – 0 0 0 Best bowling – 7/131 6/28 3/13 Catches/stumpings 0/– 22/– 23/– 23/–
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 3 November 2025

Abhishek Mohan Nayar (born 8 October 1983) is a former Indian international cricketer and is the current head coach of Kolkata Knight Riders and UP Warriorz. He is also the former Assistant Coach of Indian men’s cricket team. He was an all-rounder who batted left-handed and bowled right-arm medium pace. He played first class cricket for Mumbai and Pondicherry, and played his 100th first-class match in November 2018. Nayar represented Mumbai Indians, Kings XI Punjab, Pune Warriors India and Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League.

Domestic career

Nayar is a useful right-arm medium-pacer who has time and again got Mumbai crucial breakthrough in his young first-class career. He does not quite have the pace to be a regular attacking option but it's with his left-hand batting that he becomes a natural selection. Capable of crease occupation as well as hitting the ball hard, Nayar chipped in with vital contributions in Mumbai's successful Ranji Trophy campaign in 2006.

The first-class century narrowly eluded him for a time - he made 97 against Gujarat in 2006 but when it came it was a big one, 152 against Karachi Urban in the Mohammad Nissar Trophy.

Nayar was bought by the lucrative Indian Premier League's Mumbai franchise in early 2008 and enjoyed regular playing time as the tournament kicked off. In the final of the 2008/09 Ranji Trophy, he made a vital 99 that helped set up Mumbai's 38th triumph and, after being on the fringes of the national side.

He was the second highest run-scorer in the 2012/13 Ranji Trophy season scored 966 runs for Mumbai including three centuries and eight 50s. He also picked up 19 wickets to play an important role in the team's 40th Ranji Trophy title.

He selected to play for India A against Australia in a tour match in February. Nayar was not a part of the India A and Board President's XI squads which was announced earlier. In 2013, Nayar sent down 10 wides and a no-ball in a 17-ball over in the semi-final of the inter-zone Deodhar Trophy. He equal record of Mohammad Sami holds the record in ODIs with his famous 17-ball over against Bangladesh in an Asia Cup match in 2004. Nayar himself had handy figures of 7-0-49-2 with wickets of two specialist batsmen, Hanuma Vihari and CM Gautam. Nayar didn't look pleased with some of the wide calls, but later said it was more disappointment than dissent. Nayar came into bowl in the 12th over of South Zone's innings and began with the wicket of opener Vihari first ball. The wide malaise began with the third delivery of the over.

Fifth, sixth, seventh, ninth, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th were all wides. All bar one of those were off-side wides. Nayar even tried to shorten his run-up but to no avail.

He scored a century along with the Vijay Zol ensured India A held on for a draw against New Zealand "A" in Visakhapatnam on the final day in September 2013.

In Challenger Trophy 2013, he responded with a counterattacking 91 off 73 balls against Delhi as India Blues was reduced from 56 for 0 to 66 for 3. Against India Red, he scored unbeaten 75 off 39 balls as India Blues scored 345 runs in 50 overs.

After the 2018 IPL season, he was named as the mentor and head coach of the first-of-its-kind, KKR academy, to guide the youngsters of KKR during the off-season.

Ahead of the 2018–19 Ranji Trophy, he transferred from Mumbai to Puducherry. In November 2018, he played in his 100th first-class match.

International career

He was named in India's squad for the ODI tour of the West Indies where he made his debut. He played in the last two ODIs but he didn't get a chance to bat or bowl in either. His first and only opportunity to bat as well as bowl came in his third and final ODI, in the group stage of 2009 Champions Trophy against West Indies. It was a low stakes match as India were already eliminated from the race to the semifinals. He came to bat when India were firmly in control of the game with 26 runs required in 22 overs with 7 wickets in Hand. Nayar faced 7 deliveries in total and played defensively, taking his time to get off the mark. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli, his batting partner, finished the game with some boundaries and quick runs before Nayar could score his first international run. Nayar also bowled three overs at 17 runs without picking a wicket.

Coaching career

He is the current coach of UP Warriorz (WPL Team). He was also appointed as assistant coach for Kolkata Knight Riders and has been appointed the head coach of Trinbago Knight Riders.

Personal life

Abhishek was born in Secunderabad to Keralite Mohan Nair and Lekha Nair. His parents were originally from Neyyattinkara in Kerala. He attended Bombay Scottish School in Mahim. He married Natasha Sheikh in 2014.

External links

• Abhishek Nayar at ESPNcricinfo