Abhishek Nayar is set to be unveiled as head coach of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of IPL 2026, ESPNcricinfo understands. It is a step-up from being an assistant to Chandrakant Pandit last season, when he was brought back by the franchise after a year's gap, during which he assisted Gautam Gambhir in India's national men's side.

Most recently, Nayar was appointed head coach by Women's Premier League team UP Warriorz .

KKR and Pandit parted ways after a three-season association, during which the team won the IPL title (in 2024) after a ten-year gap. A rejig at the end of a disappointing IPL 2025 , where KKR finished eighth on the points table with just five wins, led to Pandit's exit. Since then, he has returned to Madhya Pradesh in the Indian domestic circuit, taking ov

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