Abhishek Nayar to be Appointed KKR Head Coach: Abhishek Nair, a former member of the Indian team’s coaching staff, could be appointed head coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of the upcoming IPL season. According to media reports, Nair was informed of the franchise’s decision last week, and a formal announcement is expected soon. Former Mumbai all-rounder Nair’s long and successful experience with KKR has made him the preferred choice for this important role.
Why is Nair getting a promotion?
KKR had to make this important decision because the team’s former head coach, Chandrakant Pandit, has parted ways with the franchise. This decision comes after the team’s disappointing performance in the IPL 2025 season, where KKR managed only five wins out of 14 league matches and failed to qualify for the playoffs.
- Involvement in Success: Nair was part of the team’s backroom staff as KKR’s assistant coach under mentor Gautam Gambhir in IPL 2024, when the team won the title.
- Return: Nair returned to KKR and joined the support staff shortly after being removed from his position as assistant coach of the Indian team.
- Pandit’s Replacement: Abhishek Nair will now replace former coach Chandrakant Pandit.
- Preparation for IPL 2026: KKR management is considering appointing Nair as head coach to prepare the team for the revamped IPL 2026 season.
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Nair’s long journey with KKR
Abhishek Nair is no stranger to KKR; his association with the franchise began in 2018.
- Academy role: He played a key role in grooming young players, taking over the KKR Academy in Mumbai in 2018.
- Developing match-winners: Nair helped players like Varun Chakravarthy and Rinku Singh integrate and improve their game. These players later emerged as one of KKR’s biggest match-winners.
Nair’s coaching style and players’ trust
Abhishek Nair is known for his analytical mindset and ability to extract outstanding performances from players.
- Players’ credit: Several players, such as KL Rahul, have publicly credited him for improving their game.
- Practicing with Rohit Sharma: Recently, he was also seen in a practice session with former Indian captain Rohit Sharma, highlighting his importance in the coaching world.
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