A few weeks before the IPL 2026 auction, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has made a significant decision, appointing Abhishek Nayar as the team's head coach. Nayar will now replace Chandrakant Pandit, who served as the franchise's head coach for the past three seasons.
SPORTS NEWS: The Indian Premier League (IPL) champion team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has made a major reshuffle in its coaching staff ahead of the 2026 season. The team has appointed former Indian all-rounder Abhishek Nayar as the new head coach. Nayar will take over from Chandrakant Pandit, who guided KKR for three seasons and recently resigned from the post.
This decision has been made just before the IPL 2026 auction, indicating the possibility of significant changes in the team's strategic direction. KKR management hopes that Nayar's coaching style will bring new energy and balance to the team.
Abhishek Nayar's Return to KKR
For 42-year-old Abhishek Nayar, this marks a return to Kolkata Knight Riders. He had previously been part of KKR's support staff and scouting team for approximately five years. During his tenure, the team had the opportunity to nurture the talent of many young players like Rinku Singh and Harshit Rana. Nayar had a stellar and long career playing for Mumbai in Indian domestic cricket before embarking on his coaching journey. He is known in Indian cricketing circles as a "mental toughness coach," as he pays special attention to the mental and physical strength of players.
Abhishek Nayar also served as the assistant coach for the Indian men's cricket team in 2025. During that period, he worked with players like captain Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer. Nayar's training techniques were highly praised within the Indian team. Rohit Sharma himself trained with Nayar and referred to him as a "game-changer coach." While working on Rohit's fitness, Nayar had stated that "the captain will appear even lighter and faster in the coming months."
After his stint with the Indian team, Nayar coached UP Warriorz in the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025. Although the team's performance was average, winning only three out of eight matches, his coaching approach was appreciated.
Decision to Change After KKR's Poor Performance
The IPL 2025 season was extremely disappointing for KKR. The team, which won the title the previous year (IPL 2024), managed only 5 wins and finished in eighth place in the points table. The weak performance of the team's middle order, inconsistency in bowling, and frequent changes in captaincy were major reasons for KKR's losses.
Under Chandrakant Pandit's leadership, the team played disciplined cricket, but in 2025, players appeared out of form. Amidst this, the management decided to make a change to bring a new perspective to coaching. KKR management believes that Abhishek Nayar will bring youthful energy, scientific training, and a modern cricketing mindset to the team. Nayar's focus will be on players' mental conditioning, fitness, and team culture.
