Kolkata Knight Riders head coach Abhishek Nayar believes the key to surviving a tough stretch in IPL 2026 is protecting the belief inside the dressing room, especially when early setbacks—including injuries and poor starts—can quickly shake confidence. Speaking during KKR’s match against the Rajasthan Royals at Eden Gardens on Sunday, Nayar explained how the franchise’s support system is helping players handle disruptions while still creating the right mindset to perform.
Building belief through injuries and uneven results
Nayar highlighted that the tournament can feel punishing when a side is forced to deal with multiple injuries and doesn’t get the opening it wants. He pointed to the experience within the group—citing players such as Shane Watson, DJ Bravo, Andre Russell (Dre Russ), and Tim Southee—as a reason KKR can keep perspective during difficult phases.
- Nayar said that getting hit early with injuries and lacking a desired start is a reality that teams must adapt to in IPL.
- He stressed that seasoned campaigners in the squad provide guidance on how to respond when the competition becomes mentally and physically demanding.
- He underlined the importance of maintaining a positive dressing-room culture so players continue to feel confident about going out and representing the franchise.
- Nayar noted that pressure can sometimes take over, and KKR want to ensure players receive the best possible opportunity to perform from the coaching and management side.
How KKR plan to use Sunil Narine in the powerplay
Alongside the mental approach, Nayar also discussed KKR’s tactical thinking—particularly the role of veteran spinner Sunil Narine during the powerplay. He said the team has viewed that phase as a consistent area of concern and has tried to address it by leveraging Narine’s impact with the ball early in innings.
- Nayar said the powerplay has been problematic for KKR when they have “leaked” runs.
- He explained that Narine’s current form is part of the strategy to ensure he can deliver an over in the opening phase.
- Nayar clarified that the plan is not purely defensive; it is focused on targeting wickets through Narine.
- He added that when Narine is introduced, KKR aim for him to influence the game at key moments, with wicket-taking as the priority.
- Nayar acknowledged that opponents are approaching Narine differently this season, but said KKR still see him primarily as a wicket option rather than only a containment bowler.
Powerplay matters, but executing all three phases is the real goal
With powerplay performance becoming a bigger talking point across T20 leagues, Nayar admitted its importance while insisting that the bigger objective is to execute effectively in every phase of the game. He suggested that when KKR have played the powerplay well, they have given themselves a strong chance to win, and he wants that approach to become more consistent.
- Nayar said teams need to handle all three facets of T20 cricket, even if the powerplay has been a weakness for KKR so far.
- He mentioned that KKR have not performed well in the powerplay consistently in the tournament, but when they have done it well, they have created a strong opportunity in the match.
- He said the approach today felt significantly better in terms of how KKR approached the opening overs.
- Nayar emphasized that for KKR’s current position, they must get all phases right, while still recognizing that a strong powerplay “doesn’t hurt at all.”
He summed up by stating that the team wants to win across all phases, with special focus on getting the powerplay working as a foundation for the rest of the innings and the overall contest.
Turning the campaign around with confidence under pressure
As KKR look to reverse their fortunes with a win over Rajasthan Royals, Nayar said the team’s attention is on building confidence and ensuring players are prepared to respond when pressure rises. His message was clear: keep the mindset steady, back the plans in key moments like the powerplay, and give players the best environment to perform even when the season has not started smoothly.
