Kolkata Knight Riders appoint Abhishek Nayar as new head coach

Nayar succeeds Chandrakant Pandit - who coached the team to the 2024 IPL title - following the conclusion of the IPL 2025 campaign.

Hailing from Mumbai, Nayar has been part of the KKR family since 2018 and is widely respected for his mentoring approach and eye for talent. In 2024, he also served as the Assistant Coach of the Indian men's national team under head coach Gautam Gambhir.

Nayar has worked closely with the franchise's players as part of its support staff and academy structure. Nayar's expertise and ability as a coach have been well established over the years. During his tenure as Assistant Coach of KKR, he played a vital role in shaping the growth of young talents.

Now, he will step into the lead role. Venky Mysore, CEO, Kolkata Knight Riders, is thrilled to have Abhishek on board.

"Abhishek has been a vital part of the Knight Riders setup since 2018, shaping our players both on and off the field," said Mysore.

"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."