NEW DELHI: Kolkata Knight Riders have appointed former New Zealand pacer Tim Southee as their new bowling coach for the upcoming IPL 2026 season.

Southee joins a revamped KKR coaching setup led by Abhishek Nayar, with the franchise recently bringing in Shane Watson as assistant coach ahead of the next season.

"We are delighted to welcome Tim Southee back to the KKR family, this time in a coaching capacity," CEO Venky Mysore said. "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."

Southee represented his country in 107 Test matches, 161 ODIs, and 126 T20 Internationals, taking 776 wickets.

Southee was a part of the Kolkata Knight Riders squad (2021, 2022, 2023) in the IPL during his playing career.

According to Southee, joining KKR as bowling coach was a natural progression of his long-standing association with the three-time champions.

"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."