Abhishek Nayar will replace Chandrakant Pandit as the head coach of Kolkata Knight Riders, the three-time champion side announced on Thursday.

Nayar, who has worked closely with the franchise as a support staff and a mentor to young talent at its academy, has been part of the KKR family since 2018. He also served as an assistant coach with the Indian team last year.

“Abhishek’s understanding of the game and connection with players have been key to our growth. We’re thrilled to see him take over as the head coach,” said KKR CEO Venky Mysore.