Abhishek Nayar is set to be appointed the head coach of Indian Premier League (IPL) side Kolkata Knight Riders.

The former India international and erstwhile assistant coach of the national team, Nayar has been part of the Knight Riders for a long time. With the franchise parting ways with Chandrakant Pandit as the head coach, Nayar is set to take over.

Sports stars understands that Nayar was officially informed about the decision last week, and a formal announcement could be made next week.

After winning the IPL title in 2024, KKR had an ordinary outing last season as it failed to qualify for the playoffs, under the leadership of Ajinkya Rahane. Though Nayar joined the team, midway into the season, things did not go the Knights’ way.

Over the years, Nayar has worked with some of the biggest names of Indian cricket, including Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer. He is also known for scouting young talents.

Interestingly, he’s also the head coach of UP Warriorz in the Women’s Premier League and it needs to be seen whether he continues the dual roles.

Published on Oct 26, 2025