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“Knows just about every…”: Watson on KKR coach Nayar’s domestic cricket knowledge

Poulomi Chakraborty

Shane Watson praises  Abhishek Nayar (Source: @KkrKaravan/x.com, @cricketcomau/x.com)Shane Watson praises  Abhishek Nayar (Source: @KkrKaravan/x.com, @cricketcomau/x.com)

Just a few days ago, the cricket world witnessed the thrilling IPL 2026 mini auction. Even though the tournament is far away, the franchises finalized their final warriors, but KKR’s auction strategy grabbed the attention.

From grabbing high-profile players like Cameron Green, Matheesha Pathirana, and even Mushtafizur Rahman, Abhishek Nayar’s sharp brain gave an edge to the side. Shane Watson hailed Nayar’s deep understanding of the domestic circuit as the real masterstroke behind the scenes.

Shane Watson is in awe of Abhishek Nayar’s cricketing IQ

After having a forgettable outing in the last season of the IPL, the Kolkata Knight Riders went through a major transformation. From players to the coaching panel, everything was revamped, giving fans a spark of a fresh beginning in the IPL 2026 mini-auction. Game-changing moves followed with the inclusion of Matheesha Pathirana and Mustafizur Rahman, giving fans real hope of a revival.

Just not the big names, some of the talented domestic stars made their way into the KKR camp and head coach Abhishek Nayar remained the man behind those masterstrokes. Speaking on KKR’s YouTube channel, assistant coach Shane Watson lauded Nayar’s vast cricketing knowledge and sharp eye for talent.

“I’ll say this straight away. I think Abhishek Nayar knows just about every cricketer on the planet. His understanding of Indian domestic players, their stats, where they’re at, what they’ve been doing recently, the depth of his intel is extraordinary. I’m not sure I’ve come across anyone with that level of knowledge across Indian cricket,” he said.

Watson praises Nayar’s incredible auction strategy

Being on the auction table, the KKR management looked confident. From smart budget steals to headline-grabbing record deals, every move reflected careful planning rather than impulse. Their fans saw their action on that day, but the strategy started long ago. Now, Watson revealed how Abhishek Nayar’s auction blueprint worked so well for them.

“Going into the auction, I had complete confidence that even if we missed out on any domestic player we were targeting, Abhishek would already have had two or three alternatives lined up with clear insight into their strengths,” he said.

“He was regularly sending me videos, breaking down each player’s performances across every possible scenario. That level of preparation gave us enormous confidence. Leaning on Abhishek’s intel, we knew things were going to work out well for us in the auction,” he added.

Having served the Kolkata Knight Riders for years, the franchise entrusted the former star with even greater responsibility, naming him head coach. After last year’s heartbreak, the Knights will be looking forward to a successful campaign in the upcoming season.