IPL 2026: KKR parted ways with Chandrakant Pandit; appoints new head coach

Table of Contents

The preparation for the next season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is underway, with a major coaching announcement emerging from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) camp. While teams are getting ready for the player retention deadline next month, KKR has made a significant appointment to lead their franchise for the upcoming season.

The KKR franchise has officially appointed Abhishek Nayar as its new Head Coach, filling the vacancy left earlier this year. Nayar replaces Chandrakant Pandit, who served as the head coach for three seasons, including the franchise’s “championship-winning year of 2024. Pandit and the franchise parted ways earlier this year, prompting KKR’s search for a replacement.

Nayar’s appointment signifies the franchise’s commitment to its recent trend of entrusting the role to an Indian coach. Nayar, aged 42, is highly regarded by the KKR management, having been a part of the support staff for five years, with the exception of the 2025 season due to his commitments with the Indian team. The franchise is set to benefit from his holistic, player-centric philosophy and cutting-edge coaching style. Nayar will begin his tenure working alongside several existing support staff members, notably including mentor Dwayne Bravo.

A new dawn is upon us 💜☀

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) October 30, 2025

Also READ: Kolkata Knight Riders: 5 players KKR can release ahead of IPL 2026 auction

Nayar is known for his contemporary and progressive coaching methods, which have earned him immense respect among top cricketers. His reputation is built on successfully working one-on-one with several India players with notably successful results. Among the high-profile individuals who have trained under his guidance are KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer and most prominently, Rohit Sharma.

s Nayar takes the helm, the franchise must also address another major vacancy: the former bowling coach, Bharat Arun, who parted ways with the franchise earlier this year to take up a role with the Lucknow Supergiants. KKR is currently in the process of finalising a suitable replacement for Arun, indicating a two-pronged approach to restructuring their leadership team ahead of the upcoming IPL season.

Also READ: IPL 2026 trade war heats up: CSK, KKR and RR battle for KL Rahul’s signature