In a major move ahead of the IPL 2026 season, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have strengthened their coaching staff by appointing Australian all-rounder Shane Watson as their assistant coach. The franchise announced the news on November 13, as part of a broader revamp following the exit of head coach Chandrakant Pandit.

Watson, a former star for Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK), brings immense experience both as a player and mentor. KKR CEO Venky Mysore said Watson’s deep understanding of T20 cricket will be invaluable for the team’s upcoming campaign. Watson, in turn, expressed excitement about helping KKR chase their fourth IPL title.

Watson has had a stellar IPL career — 3,874 runs and 92 wickets in 145 matches. He was instrumental in Rajasthan Royals’ 2008 title win, earning the Player of the Tournament award, and played a key role in CSK’s 2018 championship.

This appointment follows KKR’s decision to promote Abhishek Nayar to head coach, replacing Pandit. Nayar, who earlier worked as an assistant coach with KKR and briefly with Team India, will now lead the revamped coaching setup alongside Watson as KKR eyes a strong comeback in IPL 2026.