Kolkata Knight Riders set to appoint Abhishek Nayar as their head coach ahead of IPL 2026: Reports

With the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 player auction nearing its timeline, the franchises have gone back to pen and paper as they chalk out their way for the upcoming edition. However, the IPL talks

have now been prominent with several speculating the auction to be held in mid-December, the three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are also in news as they look to bring some of the key members into their side.

In the latest development, the KKR franchise are looking to rope in Abhishek Nayar as their head coach for the upcoming season. According to reports citing The Indian Express, Nayar was informed of the decision last week, however a formal announcement is expected to be made soon. It is to be noted that Nayar joined KKR last year as support staff after being removed as Indian cricket team’s assistant coach.

Abhishek Nayar to replace Chandrakant Pandit as KKR head coach: Reports

With the Ajinkya Rahane-led side parting ways with Chandrakant Pandit on July 29, the franchise made their intentions clear of looking for a new head coach. But recent reports have zeroed in on Nayar’s name, who has worked previously as well with the purple and gold franchise. Notably, the former Mumbai all-rounder served as their main man behind the scene, taking care of grooming the players in the academy.

If the position is confirmed for Abhishek Nayar, it will be seen if he’ll continue to serve in the role for two different franchises in separate league. Earlier, Nayar was named UP Warriorz’s head coach in Women’s Premier League (WPL). Apart from his coaching roles, Nayar is known for scouting various players and has recently been closely working with his old friend and Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma.