In a post-match interview with Harsha Bhogle, following Kolkata Knight Riders’ victory in the 2024 IPL Final, Varun Chakravarthy and Venkatesh Iyer lauded Abhishek Nayar for his crucial role in their success. While Gautam Gambhir and Shah Rukh Khan bask in the spotlight as KKR clinches their third IPL title by defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Stars like Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, and Mitchell Starc receive accolades, it’s clear that another key figure has played an instrumental role. With Chandrakant Pandit becoming the first coach to win both the IPL and the Ranji Trophy, the celebrations on Sunday night had a deeper layer of acknowledgement.
Amidst the applause and cheers, some players ensured that assistant coach Abhishek Nayar received the recognition he deserved.
Varun Chakravarthy and Venkatesh Iyer Credit Abhishek Nayar for Building KKR’s Indian Core
During their interview with Harsha Bhogle, Varun Chakravarthy and Venkatesh Iyer were vocal about Nayar’s pivotal influence. “All I can think of right now is the person who built this Indian core. The main guy behind this is Abhishek Nayar,” Chakravarthy remarked. The Indian core that Chakravarthy referred to has been extraordinary this season.
Chakravarthy himself took 21 wickets, Harshit Rana secured 19 wickets, and Vaibhav Arora claimed 11. Venkatesh Iyer contributed significantly with 370 runs. Teenage sensation Angkrish Raghuvanshi made a memorable debut, scoring a fifty, while Ramandeep Singh added crucial lower-order runs and was impressed with his fielding. Iyer, who played a pivotal role in the final by scoring a rapid 26-ball 52, echoed the sentiment.
Iyer Praises Nayar’s Key Role in KKR’s Success
“Abhishek Nayar deserves all the credit in the world. Some of his contributions go unnoticed, I want to make sure it doesn’t,” he stated.
Iyer’s retention by KKR before the previous mega auction, instead of Shubman Gill, underscores the confidence Nayar had in him. Thus, while the headlines celebrate KKR’s stars and their monumental win, the contributions of Abhishek Nayar, the architect behind the scenes, are being rightfully acknowledged by those who witnessed his impact firsthand.
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