Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Thursday confirmed the appointment of Abhishek Nayar as their head coach ahead of the IPL 2026 season. The announcement was made through a post on the franchise’s social media handles.
The CEO of KKR, Venky Mysore, praised Nayar’s contribution to the team and said, “Abhishek has been a vital part of the Knight Riders setup since 2018, shaping our players both on and off the field. His understanding of the game and connection with the players have been key to our growth. We’re thrilled to see him take over as head coach and lead KKR into its next chapter.”
Nayar, who has been part of KKR since 2018, had to part ways with the franchise after he became the assistant coach of the Indian team. After his tenure with the national side ended, Nayar rejoined KKR midway through the IPL 2025 season, but the three-time IPL winners couldn’t reach the playoffs. The former Mumbai-based cricketer was also part of the coaching setup when KKR won their third IPL trophy in 2024.
KKR parted ways with former head coach Chandrakant Pandit in July 2025 after finishing eighth in the points table during the IPL 2025 campaign. The new coaching setup is expected to improve the team’s performance. At KKR, in his capacity as head coach, Nayar will work alongside mentor Dwayne Bravo.
Earlier in July 2025, he was also appointed head coach of UP Warriorz in the Women’s Premier League.
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