IPL 2026: Eoin Morgan to Coach KKR, Chandrakant Pandit to be Sacked After Disastrous Season – Report

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are planning big changes after their poor run in IPL 2025. Reports say that head coach Chandrakant Pandit could be sacked, and former KKR captain Eoin Morgan is in line to take his place.

KKR failed to defend their IPL 2024 title and were knocked out early this season. Ajinkya Rahane’s captaincy didn’t work, and the team couldn’t carry forward the momentum built under Gautam Gambhir’s guidance.

Pandit’s coaching style hasn’t gone down well with many players. Back in 2023, David Wiese had called him “a very militant type of coach.” Though KKR kept Pandit as head coach in 2025, they had also brought in Gambhir as mentor.

Gambhir’s calm influence was praised by senior players like Andre Russell and Sunil Narine during their title-winning run in 2024.

But in IPL 2025, without Gambhir’s regular presence, the team looked flat and disconnected. That’s when questions about Pandit’s leadership started growing again.

Eoin Morgan Could Make a Comeback

According to a report in Anandabazar Patrika, KKR are now seriously considering Eoin Morgan for the head coach role.

Morgan knows the franchise well. He led KKR to the final in 2021 and played a big part in turning around a dull season. Many believe he can bring the same clarity and calmness that KKR enjoyed under Gambhir.

However, no official statement has come from the franchise yet, but signs point to a possible shake-up before IPL 2026.