Kolkata Knight Riders announced the appointment of Abhishek Nayar as their head coach for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season.
Nayar replaces Chandrakant Pandit, who served as Kolkata Knight Riders head coach from IPL 2023 to 2025 and he guided the team to a title triumph in 2024. However, following KKR’s eighth-place finish in the 2025 season, the franchise parted ways with Pandit paving
the way for Nayar to take over. Although Nayar had joined KKR midway through the 2025 season, the team’s fortunes failed to improve.
The 42-year-old had also served as an assistant coach with the Indian national team for a year before his contract was terminated in April.
Nayar shares a long-standing association with Kolkata Knight Riders, having been part of the franchise’s backroom staff from 2018 to 2024. Over the years, he has worked closely with several prominent Indian cricketers, including Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer. He
well-regarded for his ability to identify and nurture young talent.
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Interestingly, Nayar also serves as the head coach of the UP Warriorz in the Women’s Premier League (WPL), and it remains to be seen whether he will continue to juggle both roles.
Nayar played 60 IPL matches between 2008 and 2014, representing four teams as Mumbai Indians, Pune Warriors India, Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals.
The former Batting all-rounder also played three One-Day Internationals for India in the year 2009.
Know more about Abhishek Nayar:
- Full name : Abhishek Mohan Nayar
- Nickname : Nayar
- Born : 8 October 1983
- Age : 42
- Birth Place : Secunderabad, Hyderabad, India
- Batting : Left-handed
- Bowling : Right-arm Medium
- Role : All-rounder
- ODI shirt no : 24
- Spouse : Natasha Sheikh
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