Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are set for a major revamp ahead of IPL 2026. The franchise has announced that former Australian all-rounder and World Cup winner Shane Watson will join the team as assistant coach.
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Watson, who enjoyed a highly successful IPL career with Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings, will now take up a key role in KKR’s coaching setup. His appointment comes soon after the franchise named Abhishek Nayar as head coach. The two will work together as KKR aim to bounce back stronger after finishing eighth last season.
The Queensland-born cricketer represented Australia in 59 Tests, 190 ODIs, and 58 T20Is. In the IPL, Watson played for over 12 seasons, scoring four centuries and winning the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award twice — in 2008 (when Rajasthan Royals won the inaugural title) and again in 2013.
After retiring, he transitioned into coaching, serving as an assistant coach with Delhi Capitals under Ricky Ponting and most recently coaching the San Francisco Unicorns in Major League Cricket (USA). Now, his next stop is Eden Gardens, as part of KKR’s leadership group.
KKR CEO Venky Mysore said, “Shane Watson’s experience and understanding of the T20 format will add great strength to our setup. His insights as both player and coach will be invaluable for the team.”
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Watson expressed his excitement, saying, “It’s an incredible honour to be part of a franchise as iconic as Kolkata Knight Riders. I’ve always admired the team’s passion and fan culture. I’m eager to work with the players and coaching staff to bring another title to Kolkata.”
Following last season’s disappointing finish, KKR parted ways with former head coach Chandrakant Pandit. With Nayar and Watson taking charge, the franchise is clearly focused on rebuilding for IPL 2026.
Reports suggest KKR may release several underperforming players from last season — names like Venkatesh Iyer, Anrich Nortje, Moeen Ali, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Spencer Johnson are being discussed. Even Andre Russell’s retention is reportedly under review.