Former IPL Champion player from the Kolkata Knight Riders camp, Manvinder Bisla, has now taken up a new role for the Knights ahead of the 2026 IPL season. The KKR wicketkeeper was formerly part of Gautam Gambhir’s IPL-winning team in 2012.
Kolkata Knight Riders have largely revamped their coaching unit. Dwayne Bravo, the IPL legend, will continue to serve as their mentor. However, Abhishek Nayar has replaced Chandrakant Pandit as the head coach, and his role will be key for KKR.
Kolkata Knight Riders finished their previous campaign on a low note after they managed to win only 5 of their 14 games. To no one did it seem the same team that won the IPL 2024 under skipper Shreyas Iyer and mentor Gautam Gambhir. However, this time they will have to aim to turn the tide.
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Former IPL champions Manvinder Bisla re-associated with KKR ahead of the 2026 season
KKR’s head coach, Abhishek Nayar, gave a light introduction of the coaching staff before the start of the IPL 2026 season, as the team gathered to begin the preparations for the IPL. In doing so, he introduced former KKR star Manvinder Bisla as one of the scouting members for the team.
“We have got Bisla and Biju (George), who are our heads of scouting. Our scouting team is here to help us in the phase of building up,” said the KKR head coach.
Bisla is a known name with the Kolkata Knight Riders, as he was part of the squad that won the first-ever IPL title for the Kolkata Knight Riders, only the fourth franchise to have won it back then in 2012.
The Head Coach welcomes our 🆕, starry staff additions 💜🤩 pic.twitter.com/mbVU4LDdpO
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) March 18, 2026
Head coach Abhishek Nayar gives Shane Watson a warm welcome at KKR
The KKR head coach, who had formerly been part of the KKR unit as an assistant coach and later joined the Indian team for a brief stint, is now back as the Head coach of the unit and seems blessed to have former CSK and RR all-rounder Shane Watson as his assistant coach for the season.
“Just a very formal welcome from me. A few new entrants. I think I should start by introducing them. Everyone knows Shane Watson as a player, but I have known him as someone who has played under him as a player, and I’m really, really happy, ‘Watto,’ to have you with us.
“I think you have been a terrific addition, even in this small period that I’ve interacted with you. Tap into his experience; you know you will learn a lot. We’ve had a lot of good coaches, but I’m pretty sure that Shane Watson is going to add a lot of value to us.
“So, Watto, welcome to the KKR family,” Abhishek Nayar said in his welcoming speech.
KKR to start their IPL 2026 campaign against the Mumbai Indians
Kolkata Knight Riders will be aiming to make a promising start, and the season begins on the KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane’s home ground, the Wankhede Stadium, against the five-time champions Mumbai Indians.
KKR will be up against the mighty MI side, comprising the World Cup-winning all-rounder Hardik Pandya, Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav and ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah, oogling fire after the terrific World Cup showdown.
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