Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday announced the appointment of New Zealand star Tim Southee as the team’s Bowling Coach for the upcoming Indian Premier League 2026 season. It marks the continued revamp of the KKR’s backroom staff. A couple of weeks ago, the franchise had announced Abhishek Nayar as the new head coach of the team, succeeding Chandrakant Pandit following the conclusion of the IPL 2025 campaign. Interestingly, Nayar is also the head coach of UP Warriorz for the upcoming Women’s Premier League season. KKR followed that up with the confirmation that Shane Watson as the Assistant Coach.
One of the most accomplished fast bowlers of his generation, Southee has been a cornerstone of New Zealand cricket for over 15 years. Having represented his country in 100+ Test matches, over 150 ODIs, and 120+ T20 Internationals, Southee has claimed more than 700 international wickets across formats. He captained New Zealand in multiple formats and played a pivotal role in their 2019 ICC World Cup campaign and the 2021 ICC World Test Championship victory.
Southee was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders squad (2021, 2022, 2023) in the IPL during his playing career. Southee said in a statement: “KKR has always felt like home to me, and it’s an honour to return in this new role. The franchise has an incredible culture, passionate fans, and a great group of players. I look forward to working closely with the bowlers and helping the team achieve success in IPL 2026.”
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Speaking on the appointment, Venky Mysore, CEO of Kolkata Knight Riders, said: “We are delighted to welcome Tim Southee back to the KKR family, this time in a coaching capacity. Tim’s vast experience and technical expertise will be instrumental in shaping our bowling unit. His leadership qualities and calm approach make him an ideal mentor for our young bowlers.”
Earlier, Watson had said in a statement: “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.”
