Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have reportedly appointed Abhishek Nayar as the team’s head coach, starting from the IPL 2026 season. According to The Indian Express, the franchise informed Nayar about the decision last week, and an official announcement will be made soon.

Nayar joined KKR in 2018 as the head of their new KKR Academy in Mumbai. He coached many young players there and built strong bonds with players like Rinku Singh and Varun Chakaravarthy, who still credit him for their growth.

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Abhishek Nayar’s Journey with KKR

Eventually, former Mumbai all-rounder Abhishek Nayar took up a role closer to the KKR team as the batting coach. He was part of the Chandrakant Pandit-led support staff that helped KKR win the IPL 2024 title, their third trophy. When franchise mentor Gautam Gambhir was appointed by the BCCI as the head coach of the Indian men’s team, he brought Nayar and fielding coach Ryan ten Doeschate with him as assistant coaches.

However, while Gambhir, ten Doeschate, and bowling coach Morne Morkel continued, Nayar was removed from the national team earlier this year after India’s big defeat in the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Sitanshu Kotak is now serving as India’s batting coach.

🚨 ABHISHEK NAYAR HAS BEEN APPOINTED AS THE HEAD COACH OF KKR 🚨 (Express Sports). pic.twitter.com/NpO7LFuD0M

— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) October 26, 2025

KKR’s Struggles and Nayar’s Return

KKR brought Nayar back during the middle of the 2025 season, but he couldn’t turn things around. The team struggled after losing captain Shreyas Iyer, had a weak auction, and finished eighth with only five wins in 14 games.

Nayar is seen as a calm and understanding coach, unlike Pandit, who had a strict image as a domestic cricket legend. Although Nayar doesn’t have major coaching titles, he has worked closely with players like Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Dinesh Karthik, who have credited him for improving their careers.

How Nayar handles the bigger challenge as KKR’s head coach remains to be seen. Earlier this year, he was also appointed as the head coach of the WPL team UP Warriorz, and it’s not yet clear if he will continue in that role after taking charge of KKR.

The three-time champions of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Kolkata Knight Riders, are set to appoint the former Indian coach, Abhishek Nayar, as their head coach for the forthcoming 2026 season. The reports of the Indian Express revealed that Nayar was informed of the decision last week, as a formal announcement is expected to be made soon.

Nayar had joined the franchise last year as support staff after being removed from the assistant coach’s role for the Indian team. The former all-rounder of the Mumbai side worked with KKR and was their main man behind the scenes, taking full care of the grooming players in the academy. The franchise has parted ways with its former head coach, Chandrakanth Pandi.

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Kolkata had recently zeroed in on Nayar’s name as his replacement. KKR experienced an ordinary IPL 2025 as they failed to qualify for the playoffs, managing five wins from their 14 league games. The 42-year-old’s name coming as the new head coach isn’t surprising after his previous work with the franchise and their players for the past years.

Kolkata Knight Riders appoint Abhishek Nayar as head coach ahead of IPL 2026

Earlier this year, Nayar took up the role of the head coach of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) franchise, UP Warriorz, and it will now be interesting to see if he continues to hold the role of the head coach of two different sides in two separate leagues of the game.

Is there any chance of Nayar somehow forcing Rohit Sharma in KKR, as the Nagpur-born also love playing at the Eden Gardens, while the franchise needs a captain after the poor show from their previous season’s leader, Ajinkya Rahane? There are discussions of the 2024 champions going after one of Ishan Kishan or KL Rahul to make them part of the side.

Even though Nayar had a successful stint with the franchises, he couldn’t repeat the same success with the national side. The batting group’s continued failures in Test cricket at home and away had put the spotlight on Nayar’s role, and after a review meeting, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) terminated the contract of its support staff.

Former India player Abhishek Nayar said that Shreyas Iyer did not get out to a short ball in the second ODI against Australia. He explained that the middle-order batter was troubled by a seaming delivery around his waist, which he could not control.

Shreyas was caught behind on the leg side off a Josh Hazlewood delivery for 11 runs off 24 balls in the first ODI against Australia in Perth on Sunday, October 19. The Men in Blue lost the match by seven wickets via the DLS method. They will hope to bounce back and level the series in the second game in Adelaide on Thursday, October 23.

During an interview on the Star Sports show Game Plan, Nayar was asked about Shreyas and whether he got out to a short ball in Perth. He was also asked if the right-handed batter would be targeted the same way in Adelaide.

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Abhishek Nayar said, “I don’t agree that he got out to a short ball in Perth. I think it was a good ball because he was cramped. The ball moved in and came towards his waist, and he couldn’t control it. He will also think about it. He knows it was Perth, and now we have to go to Adelaide.”

The former India assistant coach added that Australia might use a different plan against Shreyas Iyer in Adelaide because the side boundaries are smaller.

“The side boundaries in Perth are big, but in Adelaide, they are small. So, will they use the short ball again? Will they come with the same plan? These are the match-ups. At the international level, players don’t come with the same strategy in every match,” Nayar said.

He also mentioned that Mitchell Starc might bowl a full and fast first ball to Shreyas Iyer at the Adelaide Oval. Nayar advised Shreyas not to think about Perth anymore and to focus on making good memories and gaining experience in Adelaide.

It’s about how you play in the power play! ⚡🏏#AakashChopra, #IrfanPathan, and #AbhishekNayar share crucial insights for Team India ahead of the 2nd ODI in Adelaide!#AUSvIND 👉 2nd ODI | THU, 23rd OCT, 8 AM pic.twitter.com/hpW5EXjn8V

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) October 22, 2025

“The first thing he will be practising is the toss” – Abhishek Nayar on Shubman Gill

On Game Plan, Abhishek Nayar was asked about Shubman Gill’s mindset before the second ODI after his unlucky dismissal in the first game against Australia.

Nayar said, “I think the first thing he will be practising is the toss. As a team, we have lost 16 tosses. In Perth, when you lose the toss and the ball is moving, with rain and breaks, it’s not easy. No excuses, but it’s tough for any batsman. So, start with the toss and get the advantage for India.”

He added that senior players and the coaching staff would help Gill and the team make a comeback after the defeat in Perth.

“As captain, he was tested in England too, and the team made a comeback there. You can expect the same from this team. They always fight back. It’s also a test for him as a captain. He has support from players like Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, and Gautam Gambhir,” Nayar said.

To end, Abhishek Nayar said there is no better place than Australia for a captain to prove himself and lead the team from a loss to a series win.

Rohit Sharma lost his captaincy in the ODI format ahead of the three-match ODI series against Australia down under, as Shubman Gill was appointed the new leader for the three encounters. Before the fixtures, his pictures impressed his fans as he seemed quite light and more fit towards the end of his career.

Abhishek Nayar, the former Indian coach, who spent a lot of time with Rohit before the latter’s departure to Australia, revealed how the Nagpur-born worked in this department to be his fittest version for the series down under.

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“Even I didn’t imagine that his weight would come down this much. We had tried this earlier, but the consistency that is needed for training and nutrition wasn’t there due to some tournaments or other events coming up. We had an uninterrupted 3 months here. To sum it up, for the first 5 weeks, it was a bodybuilder’s mindset where he was trying to train, completely lean down.” Nayar expressed during a recent interaction on Star Sports.

Watch: Abhishek Nayar talks about Rohit Sharma’s fitness ahead of AUS vs IND 2025 ODIs

Rohit didn’t have a great time in the opening clash of the ODI series at the Optus Stadium in Perth. He made just eight runs, including one boundary, before getting an outside edge into the hands of the slip fielders against Josh Hazlewood.

10 kilos down, 800 reps strong! 💪#AbhishekNayar breaks down @ImRo45's fitness journey - the hard work, the discipline, and the transformation behind the Hitman’s return. 🔥#AUSvIND 👉 1st ODI | LIVE NOW 👉 https://t.co/FkZ5L4CrRl pic.twitter.com/UKfDWdFUBN

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) October 19, 2025

“He was doing 700-800 reps of every body part. And then finishing every session with a 15-20 minute CrossFit fit, which is more cardio-based and movement-based. So it was 6 days a week, 3 hrs. a day, every single day for 3 months. It was non-stop. But the game doesn’t end there. We had to bring a change in his food habits.” The former Mumbai batter addressed.

“It was his commitment to go home and not indulge in the famous vadapav and everything else people talk about. That was his commitment to the sport. When your body loses weight, there’s a lot of change in the way you move, how you feel, so it was time to bring that into effect. So, it was a lot of hard work. To be a body builder, lean and athletic.” Abhishek Nayar explained.

India’s mystery spinner, Varun Chakravarthy, experienced an incredible time with the ball in the last few years, especially in the shortest format. He was incredible with the ball in the middle overs and the powerplay for the national side in the shortest format of the game. In 24 innings, he has collected 40 wickets at an average of 15.60 and an economy rate of under seven.

The Indian spinner looked back at the time when Abhishek Nayar, with contributions from Dinesh Karthik, brough him back the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL. The latter also called him to come Mumbai and go through a session for three continuous months.

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“We are looking to pick, and he (Abhishek Nayar) told me. Obviously, DK (Dinesh Karthik) had a huge role in that. They are the ones who brought me back to KKR. The day after the auction, Nayar called me and asked me to come in Mumbai. He got me a room next to his house. So, me, Rahul Tripathi, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Nikhil Naik, and Prasidh Krishna used to live in a small apartment.”

Watch: Varun Chakvarthy reveals Abhishek Nayar’s contribution in his comeback to cricket

The Tamil Nadu spinner played a massive role for Kolkata in the last three years. Since the start of IPL 2022, he has picked up 58 wickets in 42 innings at an average of around 20 and an economy rate of nearly eight with the best figures of 4/15.

Varun chakravarthy on Abhishek Nayar 💜 pic.twitter.com/2yfWhPbQmN

— Ashish Shrivastava (@ashishayush1177) October 16, 2025

“We had to do all of our staffs day in and out for three months non-stop. In the morning, we had gym, and in the evening, we had to make dinner. Nayar also made us doing the Bollywood dance. He told me that we hadn’t have any movement. I think what he had in his mind was to be around the cricketers and know how they work.” The Karnataka-born addressed.

“Then I saw how Tripathi, Nagarkoti, and other used to wake up in the morning and go to gym. That was when I realized that there was some method to all this madness. I can’t sustain my career if I am not into this. There were sessions when he used us to visualize what would I say if I get the player of the match award.” Varun Chakravarthy shed light.

Former coach supports Gill’s appointment

“It’s not a phone call” – Nayar stresses clear communication

Former assistant coach of India ​​Abhishek Nayar recently shared how an iconic Amitabh Bachchan movie resonated with ODI captain Rohit Sharma emotionally. Nayar, who is also a close friend of Sharma, talked about the star batter's special bond with the Bollywood film in a conversation on the Sony Sports Network.

Nayar mentioned that Sharma got very sentimental while watching Sooryavansham, starring Bachchan in a double role as a father and son. He disclosed that it is the only movie where he saw the veteran opener cry. The cricketer-turned-coach said: "Woh ek picture hai jisme maine usko rote hue dekha hai. Ekdum senti ho jaate the wo. (That is one film where I have seen him cry. He got very sentimental.)" It is worth mentioning that Abhishek Nayar continues working closely with Rohit Sharma. He was seen monitoring the 38-year-old's gym session last month ahead of the upcoming season.

Rohit Sharma’s Cricketing Achievements

On the cricketing front, Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from the game of T20 internationals after India won the T20 World Cup 2024 trophy and your Test career ended shortly after that in May 2025. His last international appearance was in the 2025 Champions Trophy final match, where India defeated New Zealand by four wickets under his captaincy to win their first ODI trophy in 12 years. He was named Player of the Match for his key 76 runs off 83 balls.

Watch the video here

A fun game of songs for the stars 🎶

Don’t miss Abhishek Nayar's 𝘏𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘭 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘢 at the end! 😅

Watch the #DPWorldAsiaCup2025 from Sept 9-28, LIVE on the Sony Sports Network TV channels & Sony LIV. #SonySportsNetwork pic.twitter.com/e0ssqApLx9

— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) September 18, 2025

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Meanwhile, Reports had suggested that the BCCI considered Rohit and Virat Kohli for the upcoming India A series against Australia, but the selectors did not include them. There is no question over Rohit’s place in ODIs, where he has scored 11,168 runs in 265 innings at an average of 48.76 and a strike rate of 92.80, including 32 centuries and 58 fifties, with a highest score of 264.

There was so much buzz around the clash between two old arch-rivals, India and Pakistan, ahead of the 2025 season of the Asia Cup. Before the game, many reckoned that the Indian team should boycott the game after the Pahalgam terror attack earlier this year. But Pakistan didn’t stand before India’s incredible all-round show at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

The Salman Ali Agha-led side was restricted to 127/9 in their allotted 20 overs of the first innings, which was even possible due to Shaheen Afridi’s unbeaten 33 runs. In the chase, Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav’s aggressive knocks chased down the target by seven wickets with 25 balls to spare. The former Indian all-rounder, Irfan Pathan, has trolled the Pakistan side in comparison with the IPL teams.

See Also: 'Started watching United vs City...'- Sourav Ganguly trolls Pakistan's embarrassing defeat against India in Asia Cup 2025

“If you ask which of our domestic teams can beat Pakistan, I know for sure Mumbai can beat them. Punjab can beat them. Next, which IPL team can beat Pakistan? A lot of them.” The former Baroda all-rounder expressed during the discussion on Sony Sports Network.

Abhishek Nayar slams Pakistan’s embarrassing defeat to India in Asia Cup 2025

The former Indian coach, Abhishek Nayar, felt that if India had played against the other Indian side, it would have been a perfect practice game for the future, unlike the Pakistan team, which failed to challenge the Suryakumar Yadav-led side at all.

“We were thinking about how to build up the game. Pakistan came with spinners and did not have fast bowlers. Their bowling was different, but there was no actual difference. From the start to the end, after winning the toss and batting first to the chase, Pakistan were not in the competition at all. If India were playing versus India, and it was more of a practice match for the future.” Nayar added in the same interaction.

India has already qualified for the Super 4 stage of the competition, while the winner of Pakistan’s last group-stage clash against the United Arab Emirates in Dubai on September 17 will decide who makes it to the second stage of the tournament.

The former Indian coach, Abhishek Nayar, has dropped a bombshell statement on the premier all-rounder of the side, Hardik Pandya, ahead of the intense encounter between India and Pakistan during the ongoing Men’s Asia Cup 2025 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The fixture will take place on September 14 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Hardik Pandya, who is returning to action since the second qualifier of the IPL 2025 for the Mumbai Indians, has paid incredible attention to his fitness, health, and pre-match preparation. Nayar reckoned that the Baroda all-rounder practices more bowling than batting and doesn’t believe much in having skills.

See Also: [WATCH] Durban Super Giants make unique post to announce new captain for SA20 2025/26

“He is actually slightly different. He doesn't believe too much in skill. He practices a lot, but he practices bowling more than batting. However, he pays a lot of attention to his fitness, health, and body. He has a routine, where he does yoga, concentrates on his nutrition, and trains for two to two-and-a-half hours every day.” Pandya expressed during a recent interaction, as quoted by Sports Tak.

Abhishek Nayar comments on Hardik Pandya’s skills ahead of IND vs PAK clash

In India’s opening clash of the competition, Pandya opened the bowling for the Blue Brigade against the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He bowled just one over and leaked 10 runs as the official hosts chased down the target by 58 runs by nine wickets with 93 balls to spare. He didn’t need to bat in the second innings.

“He is extremely diligent there. He always remains right mentally, but he tries to remain physically right. After that, he does whatever pre-tournament preparation he deems right. However, otherwise, he is mentally extremely strong.” Nayar shed light during the discussion.

Pandya, who has smashed 5575 runs in 263 innings at a strike rate of 142.47 with the help of 21 centuries, has picked up 204 wickets at an economy rate of 8.39 with three four-wicket hauls. His experience and all-around show will be incredibly vital for the national side ahead of the clash against the arch-rivals at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Another video of Rohit Sharma started to surface on social media platforms on the evening of September 9. In the video viewers can see Sharma and Abhishek Nayar exchanging some words in a funny way. The most hilarious part of the video is when Nayar replied to Sharma, which left him speechless. The video gained attention from the cricket fans quickly and went viral on the internet. 

At the start of the video, Rohit said, "That's Abhishek Nayar, by the way. Whether he plays, whether he coaches, or whether he is on the bed, he is always stiff." After those remarks from Sharma, Nayar did not hold back and made a hilarious reply, which left Rohit speechless. 

Many cricket fans know that Nayar and Sharma share a special bond with each other; they are good enough friends to make funny jokes. A few days ago, when the ODI captain of India was not in good shape, he was spotted with Nayar during a training session. The opener, who already retired from T20Is and Test cricket, might have gained some extra weight during the free time. As he is available for ODIs, and India is scheduled to play against Australia in a 3-match series, he had to get back to a good shape and fitness also. 

Read More: WATCH: Gujarat Titans shares specially edited video to show the making of Shubman Gill's 'grand birthday tribute'

The Board of Control for Cricket in India arranged the Bronco Test to measure players' fitness levels. As per media reports, Rohit Sharma did well in the test and passed the hurdle. Nayar has a huge role behind Rohit's fitness regime. 

Special bond between Rohit Sharma and Abhishek Nayar

Watch the funny video here

Rohit Sharma having fun with Abhishek Nayar.😂❤️ pic.twitter.com/ucFD6krU9h

— 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) September 9, 2025

41-year-old Nayar played 3 ODIs for India, which were far from impressive. Though, his domestic cricket stats were attractive. More than as a cricketer, he gained a reputation as a coach. 

Meanwhile, another viral video of Rohit shocked the entire cricket world. He was spotted entering into a hospital in Mumbai yesterday late at night. Fans started speculating about his health, but it was later known that Sharma went to the hospital for a regular checkup only.