England batting great Kevin Pietersen has predicted three-time IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders to reappoint Brendon McCullum as their coach following a horror start to the ongoing season. After playing six matches in IPL 2026, KKR remain winless, and the only point they have against their name is thanks to a home game against the in-form Punjab Kings being abandoned due to rain.
KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane and head coach Abhishek Nayar are facing the heat amid the franchise’s sorry show. Pietersen believes that McCullum, the current head coach of England men’s cricket team, will be back at KKR next year.
“Baz McCullum will be the coach of KKR next season. Bookmark this tweet,” Pietersen wrote on X.
Baz McCullum will be the coach of KKR next
season.
Bookmark this tweet.
— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) April 17, 2026
McCullum has a long history with KKR, having represented them as a player for five seasons and then later returning to the fold as the head coach from 2020 to 2022. He’s currently contracted to England and Wales Cricket Board till the end of 2027.
KKR’s Nightmare
KKR are languishing at the bottom of the IPL 2026 standings with five defeats from six matches. Their latest loss came against Gujarat Titans on Friday in Ahmedabad, and despite the poor start, captain Rahane is staying positive.
“We’re thinking one game at a time,” Rahane told reporters after the match. “It’s tough when you lose games, but everyone is trying their best. No one wants to lose any match — we all want to win — but that’s what sport is all about… keep your heads up. For us, it’s about going out there, being positive, and playing with freedom. We’ve got nothing to lose.”
“Let me tell you one thing: everyone is working really hard. For us, it’s all about playing for our fans and the people of Kolkata, and we’re trying to do our best. After each and every game, there’s discussion about how we can improve. Obviously, when you lose, you tend to think about combinations and the areas we can get better at, so the discussion is always on,” he added.
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