KKR appoint former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson as assistant coach for IPL 2026

KKR appoint former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson as assistant coach for IPL 2026

Former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson was announced as the new assistant coach for the upcoming edition of the IPL by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Wednesday. The Australian cricket icon brings with him a wealth of international experience, leadership, and a deep understanding of modern-day franchise cricket.

Watson represented Australia in 59 Tests, 190 ODIs, and 58 T20Is, in which he amassed over 10,000 international runs and registered over 280 wickets across formats. Watson was an integral part of Australia’s 2007 and 2015 ICC World Cup-winning squads and played a key role in numerous series victories in a career spanning for little over a decade. He even enjoyed a stellar IPL career (2008-2020), with 145 matches and four centuries to his name.

Following his retirement from cricket, Watson transitioned seamlessly into coaching and mentorship roles within global T20 leagues.

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“We are thrilled to welcome Shane Watson to the KKR family. His experience as a player and coach at the highest level will add immense value to our team culture and preparation. His understanding of the T20 format is world-class, and we look forward to his contributions both on and off the field,” Venky Mysore, CEO of Kolkata Knight Riders, was quoted as saying in an official press release.

Watson expressed his excitement about joining KKR, saying: “It’s a great honour to be part of a franchise as iconic as Kolkata Knight Riders. I’ve always admired the passion of KKR fans and the team’s commitment to excellence. I’m eager to work closely with the coaching group and players to help bring another title to Kolkata.”

KKR had recently announced Abhishek Nayar as the head coach for the next season. This is their second big announcement in terms of coaching and support staff.

KKR have so far made four final appearances in IPL, and thrice (2012, 2014, 2024) won the title. They finished runners-up in the 2021 season, staging one of the most remarkable comebacks in the tournament's history.