Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) head coach Abhishek Nair announced the arrival of blessings to muzarabani A 'blessing in the wings' as the franchise looks to regroup after a forgettable last season and aim for its fourth title. During the first training session, Nair addressed the team and made an apparent reference to the late replacement of Mustafizur Rahman.
Nair was promoted to the role of head coach ahead of IPL 2026 after KKR parted ways with Chandrakant Pandit following their eighth-place finish in IPL 2025. Recently, he also took charge of the Women's Premier League team UP Warriors, which finished last in the 2026 season.
“I know we've put you on the bus so far, but it's great to have you as the biggest member ever to be a part of the KKR team. So welcome, I hope you have a good time with us and you enjoy the company of our boys,” Nair was quoted as saying by NDTV Sports.
KKR will be led by Ajinkya Rahane in the upcoming season. The franchise has also revamped its coaching setup, with Shane Watson joining as assistant coach and Tim Southee taking over as bowling coach, while Dwayne Bravo continues in his role as mentor. Nair stressed the importance of mindset over skill as the team prepares for the new season.
“We've had a lot of discussions, we've talked a lot. For me, what happens here is how we tune things between our ears. The skill is there, that's not going to change in the next 10 days. But what changes is our mindset. So every moment that we spend on this field, every moment that we spend with each other, with the coaches, amongst ourselves, there is only one goal,” Nair said.
“We have a job to do, we have to win, we have to get the fourth star. And we do everything we can to prepare our minds before our bodies arrive for the first game on March 29. We prepare here, we use this time to talk to each other, communicate, get stronger as a group. So we're ready for everything.”
Nair also welcomed Watson and highlighted the importance of his vast experience to the group. Watson played 145 matches in the IPL, scoring 3,874 runs, including four centuries and 21 fifties, while also taking 92 wickets, including one four-wicket haul.
Nair concluded, “I know him as someone who has played under him as a player. Watto is very happy to have you with us. Take advantage of his experience, you will learn a lot. We have had many good coaches but I am sure Shane Watson is going to add a lot of value to us.”
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