Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Thursday appointed Abhishek Nayar as their new head coach ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Nayar, who served as KKR’s assistant coach last season, replaces Chandrakant Pandit, bringing an end to the latter’s three-year stint with the franchise.
Before taking up the KKR role, Nayar was announced as the head coach of UP Warriorz for the upcoming Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026, meaning he will now juggle dual coaching responsibilities with two major franchises. With both the WPL mega auction and the IPL mini auction on the horizon, he faces a demanding period ahead.
The franchise made the announcement across its social media platforms on Thursday, posting an image of Nayar with the caption, “A new dawn is upon us.”
“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,” KKR CEO Venky Mysore said in a statement.
Pandit’s exit marks the end of a fruitful yet fluctuating chapter for KKR. Under his guidance, the team clinched the 2024 IPL title, ending a decade-long wait for the trophy. However, a disappointing 2025 season, where KKR managed just five wins and finished eighth, prompted management to initiate changes. Pandit has since returned to domestic cricket, taking over as director of cricket at the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association, his home state.
Nayar’s association with KKR dates back to 2018, when he took charge of the KKR Academy before joining the senior team’s coaching staff. Over the years, he developed a strong working relationship with former team mentor Gautam Gambhir. When Gambhir became head coach of the national team, Nayar followed him as an assistant coach. However, after a BCCI performance review following the disastrous Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, led to a reshuffle, Nayar returned to KKR ahead of IPL 2025.
A former all-rounder for Mumbai, Nayar represented India in three ODIs in 2009. Beyond his long coaching tenure with KKR, he has also worked internationally, having served as head coach of Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2022.