Good news for Shah Rukh Khan's Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of IPL 2026 season, they have decided to… – india.com

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Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan-owned Kolkata Knight Riders are getting ready for a fresh start ahead of the IPL 2026 season and the player auctions in December this year. After parting ways with head coach Chandrakant Pandit after the IPL 2025 season, they have decided to appoint former India and Mumbai all-rounder Abhishek Nayar as the new head coach for the IPL 2026 season.

Abhishek Nayar has been an integral part of the Knight Riders setup for several years, having worked closely with the franchise’s players as part of its support staff and academy structure. Nayar’s expertise and ability as a coach have been well established over the years. During his tenure as assistant coach of KKR, he played a vital role in shaping the growth of young talents.

A post shared by Kolkata Knight Riders (@kkriders)

Hailing from Mumbai, Nayar has been part of the KKR family since 2018 and is widely respected for his mentoring approach and eye for talent. In 2024, he also served as the Assistant Coach of the Indian men’s national team under Head Coach Gautam Gambhir, where he worked closely with the country’s top players. “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 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,” said Venky Mysore, CEO, Kolkata Knight Riders.

The appointment marks a new chapter for the Knight Riders, as the team looks to build on its recent successes and prepare for the future. With a coach who understands the team’s long-term vision, KKR aims to continue its legacy of competitive and fearless cricket.
Nayar played in 60 matches in the IPL in his career for teams like Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings, now-defunct Pune Warriors India and finally the Rajasthan Royals. He scored 672 runs with a best of 45 not out and also claimed 9 wickets.
He worked as assistant coach with the Indian team for less than a year before BCCI terminated his contract earlier this year after the Test series loss to Australia. Nayar was appointed as assistant coach in July last year and his contract was ended after India’s Test series losses to New Zealand and Australia.
After the IPL 2025, in which KKR failed to make the playoffs in spite of being the defending champions, Nayar helped former India captain Rohit Sharma regain his fitness and form ahead of the three-match ODI series against Australia earlier this month.
Rohit lost 11kgs in weight and ended up with the ‘Player of the Series’ award in the ODI series and also became the world No. 1 ODI batter for the first time in his career.
Devadyuti Das is a passionate sports reporter and editor with experience of over 20 years in sports media. He has covered almost every sport for print and digital media. While Cricket is his first lov … Read More
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