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Shane Watson joins Kolkata Knight Riders as assistant coach for IPL 2026

Debashis Sarangi

Shane Watson could become KKR assistant coach [Source: @cricbuzz/X]Shane Watson could become KKR assistant coach [Source: @cricbuzz/X]

In a massive development, legendary Australian cricketer Shane Watson has become Kolkata Knight Riders' assistant head coach for the upcoming Indian Premier League season. As revealed by the franchise, Watson has joined the think tank led by Abhishek Nayar, who recently replaced Chandrakant Pandit as KKR head coach for the 2026 season. 

Watson gets into KKR setup as coaching staff

Shane Watson is one of the most successful allrounders in IPL history. Besides playing a pivotal role for Rajasthan Royals with bat and ball, Watson also represented RCB in IPL 2016 before leading CSK to the 2018 IPL title with a magnificent knock in the final against Sunrisers Hyderabad. 

After releasing Shreyas Iyer and appointing Ajinkya Rahane as their IPL captain, KKR had a forgettable season in 2025, managing only five wins across fourteen group-stage matches. Apart from several players' underwhelming performance, what resulted in KKR's group-stage elimination was a number of bizarre decisions by the management. 

Watson's stature and understanding of the modern-day T20 dynamics make him a valuable asset in KKR's coaching setup, as the three-time champions eye redemption following their group-stage exit in 2025. Meanwhile, as per ESPNCricinfo, New Zealand great Tim Southee has joined the franchise as their bowling coach, replacing Bharat Arun. 

Shane Watson's IPL career and coaching credentials

Hailed for his destructive batting at the top order and useful medium-pace bowling, Watson featured in 145 IPL matches, scoring 3874 runs at an impressive strike rate of 137.91. He also bagged 92 wickets in his illustrious career, showcasing his mettle for three different franchises. 

After retiring from professional cricket, the Australian great served as the head coach of San Francisco Unicorns in the Major League cricket. He has also previously coached Delhi Capitals in the IPL. 

Considering his coaching excellence, it will be interesting to see what kind of bold calls he takes to re-establish KKR as a force to reckon with.