Former Mumbai all-rounder Indian cricketer Abhishek Nayar was officially announced as the new head coach of Kolkata Knight Riders on Tuesday ahead of the IPL 2026 season. Nayar replaced Chandrakant Pandit, who parted ways with the franchise after the IPL 2025 season.
Nayar has been part of the franchise setup for a very long period, serving in various capacities as an assistant coach and talent scout. He played an influential role in discovering talents like Rinku Singh and Harshit Rana.
Who is Abhishek Nayak?
Abhishek Nayar is a former Indian cricketer and the head coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. He took this up as a key responsibility with the announcement for the 2026 IPL season, having grown through the ranks with this franchise over the years. Nayar has earned a reputation for guiding players through lean patches and helping them return to peak form.
Abhishek Nayak Cricket History
Nayar was a left-handed all-rounder, batting and bowling right-arm medium pace. He started his domestic career with Mumbai and quickly became an integral part of the team that won numerous Ranji Trophy titles.
He was quite a consistent and reliable player who would always come up with vital performances. In the IPL, Abhishek Nayar has represented various teams such as the Mumbai Indians, Kings XI Punjab, Pune Warriors India, and Rajasthan Royals.
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Abhishek Nayak Starts a Coaching Career
Immediately after retirement, Nayar plunged into coaching. His association with KKR goes a long way, although he first joined the franchise back in 2018.
He was instrumental in running the KKR academy and was a support staff member helping young talents like Rinku Singh and Harshit Rana hone their talents.
Nayar is an astute mentor who has the uncanny knack of helping players tide over crisis situations. He has famously worked in tandem with several top Indian cricketers, like Rohit Sharma and Dinesh Karthik. His appointment as head coach is an exciting new chapter for KKR.
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