Abhishek Nayar has been named the new head coach of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for IPL 2026. He takes over from Chandrakant Pandit, who coached the team for three seasons and led them to the IPL title in 2024. Nayar, 42, has been closely connected with KKR for many years as part of their coaching setup, except for a short break in 2025 when he worked with the Indian men’s cricket team.
Abhishek Nayar
Abhishek Nayar is a former Indian cricketer and a well-known coach. He is now the head coach of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the IPL 2026 season. Born on October 8, 1983, in Secunderabad, Nayar was an all-rounder who batted left-handed and bowled right-arm medium pace. He had a strong domestic career with Mumbai and played in the IPL for teams like Mumbai Indians, Kings XI Punjab, Pune Warriors India, and Rajasthan Royals. He also represented India in three One-Day Internationals in 2009.
Playing Career Achievements
He played three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) for India in 2009.
He had an impressive domestic career with Mumbai, making big contributions as an all-rounder with both bat and ball.
He also featured in the IPL, playing for top teams like Mumbai Indians, Kings XI Punjab, Pune Warriors India, and Rajasthan Royals.
He earned a reputation in Indian domestic cricket for being consistent and versatile throughout his long career.
Coaching Career Successes
He has been the head coach at the KKR Academy since 2018, where he helped train young players who later shined in the IPL and international cricket.
He worked as an assistant coach for Kolkata Knight Riders before being promoted to head coach in 2025.
He also served as an assistant coach for the Indian men’s cricket team, helping with player development and team planning.
In the Women’s Premier League (WPL), he coached the UP Warriorz and introduced modern training methods.
He is known for helping top Indian players, including Rohit Sharma, improve their game with personal guidance and smart coaching.
He became the head coach of KKR ahead of IPL 2026, after the team won the IPL title in 2024, and is expected to continue leading the team to success.