IPL 2026: KKR head coach Nayar promises 'season of opportunities' amid major changes
Kolkata Knight Riders' new head coach Abhishek Nayar anticipates a season of opportunities, leveraging a strong leadership group including Dwayne Bravo and Shane Watson. The team aims to finalize combinations, with Rinku Singh and Ramandeep Singh expected to step up. KKR awaits medical updates on pacer Harshit Rana and Lankan bowler Matheesha Pathirana.
Kolkata: The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) go into a new IPL season with a number of new faces and also some holes to fill. Abhishek Nayar, who takes over as the side’s new head coach after playing a big role in looking after their academy, feels “it will be a season of opportunities” for both the support staff and players. With a dressing room boasting Dwayne Bravo as ‘mentor’, Shane Watson as assistant coach and Tim Southee as bowling coach, along with the franchise’s long-time finisher Andre Russell sitting in the dugout in a new role as ‘power coach’, Nayar feels his job is now easier.
“For me, the designation has changed but the role remains pretty similar. It’s amazing to have such a leadership group. “Both skipper Ajinkya (Rahane) and I will rely a lot on our whole support group to make sure that we can sort out the challenges throughout the season.
The players are going to enjoy the luxury of having that much input in the dressing room,” Nayar said. The former Mumbai cricketer is happy with the form of the current crop of players but feels the team needs to get the combinations right. “The priority is making sure our combinations are working.
Yes, everyone is in form but positioning them well enough is important,” Nayar said. With no Russell this time, Nayar felt players like Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh and others will get more opportunities. “Rinku has done it for India for many years.