Abhishek Nayar confirmed as KKR head coach

Abhishek Nayar has been appointed as the head coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise. Nayar replaces Chandrakant Pandit, who served as head coach for three seasons, including the championship-winning year of 2024. Earlier this year, Nayar was also appointed as the head coach of UP Warriorz in the Women's Premier League.

Pandit and the franchise parted ways earlier this year, following which KKR began its search for a new head coach. Nayar's appointment continues the franchise's recent practice of entrusting the role to an Indian coach.

Speaking about Nayar's appointment, Venky Mysore, the CEO of KKR, 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 players have been key to our growth. We're thrilled to see him take over as Head Coach and lead KKR into it's next chapter."

Nayar (42) is highly regarded among players for his contemporary and progressive coaching methods, and as much by the KKR management, which has had him as part of its support staff since 2018 - except in the 2025 season, when his involvement was limited due to his commitments with the Indian team. Nayar was an assistant coach with the Indian team for a year and the franchise values his holistic, player-centric philosophy and cutting-edge coaching style.

Nayar has worked one-on-one with several India players with notably successful results. Among those who have trained under him are KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and, most prominently, Rohit Sharma. Although not always given due credit, Rohit's recent resurgence is widely believed to have stemmed from his individual sessions with Nayar. The India captain has, on multiple occasions, acknowledged and thanked Nayar for his support.

Nayar will work alongside several members of the existing coaching group, including mentor Dwayne Bravo. Former bowling coach Bharat Arun parted ways with the franchise earlier this year, and KKR is currently in the process of finalising a suitable replacement. Arun has since taken up a role with the Lucknow SuperGiants.