Shane Watson named KKR assistant coach, after leaving his role of San Fransisco Unicorns coach in the MLC recently.
Shane Watson joins KKR as assistant coach.
Prior to the IPL 2026 season, former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson was named assistant coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), joining head coach Abhishek Nayar and mentor Dwayne Bravo.
The KKR coaching staff was reorganised following the team’s seventh-place IPL 2025 result, and Watson and former New Zealand fast bowler Tim Southee are new members. Chandrakant Pandit was replaced as head coach by Nayar.
“It’s a great honour to be part of a franchise as iconic as Kolkata Knight Riders,” Watson said in a statement issued by KKR. “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.”
After serving as head coach Ricky Ponting’s assistant with the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2022 and 2023, Watson’s second IPL coaching role is with KKR. After three seasons as head coach of the San Francisco Unicorns in the MLC, he recently resigned. Watson refused to give up his broadcast and other coaching responsibilities, despite their desire for him to take on a year-long position.
Watson, a highly regarded former T20 player who is now a commentator, has played for teams that have won titles in the IPL, BBL, and PSL. Watson, who was named MVP during the Rajasthan Royals’ 2008 championship run, concluded his IPL career with the Chennai Super Kings. He scored 555 runs in 15 innings, the second-highest total for the squad, including a century in the final, and was a crucial opener in CSK’s 2018 championship run. Additionally, Watson spent two seasons (2016 and 2017) with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.