Former CSK pacer becomes new KKR bowling coach before IPL 2026 retentions

Tim Southee has joined Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as the new bowling coach ahead of IPL 2026 retentions.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) continues to chop and change their coaching staff. They have strengthened their management ahead of the IPL 2026 retention deadline by naming former New Zealand pacer Tim Southee as their new bowling coach. The appointment comes shortly after KKR brought in Shane Watson as assistant coach.

Tim Southee joins KKR

Southee replaces Bharat Arun, who has moved to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) after a successful stint that included KKR’s IPL 2024 title run. For Southee, this is a familiar environment. He represented KKR as a player between 2021 and 2023 and delivered his best IPL season in 2022 when he picked up 14 wickets in nine matches. His overall IPL journey stretched from 2011 to 2023 across six franchises, yielding 47 wickets from 54 matches. However, not many know that Southee’s debut IPL team was Chennai Super Kings (CSK), where he didn’t have much success.

“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,” KKR CEO Venky Mysore said in an official statement.

The New Zealander brings a wealth of international experience. Across 15 years of top level cricket, Southee played 107 Tests, 161 ODIs and 126 T20Is, finishing with nearly 800 wickets. With all his experience in the bank, Southee is perhaps one of the most underrated pacers of his generation. He was central to New Zealand’s run to the 2019 ODI World Cup final and their World Test Championship (WTC) triumph in 2021.

It is a great news for talents like Vaibhav Arora, Chetan Sakariya and Umran Malik, who will get to learn quite a lot from Southee. Harshit Rana should pick his brains as well, something that can help him spearhead the KKR pace attack if needed. Signing of Southee as coach could also influence auction signing of someone like Jacob Duffy, who has done so well recently for New Zealand.

KKR squad (bowlers) ahead of IPL 2026 auction

Anrich Nortje, Chetan Sakariya, Harshit Rana, Mayank Markande, Shivam Shukla, Spencer Johnson, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy, Umran Malik