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Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have named Dishant Yagnik as their new fielding coach ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. Dishant Yagnik’s move to the Kolkata Knight Riders follows a remarkably long tenure with the Rajasthan Royals, where he served as the franchise's fielding coach from 2018 through late 2025.
Dishant Yagnik becomes KKR's fielding coach
During his playing years, Yagnik was a well-regarded wicket-keeper batsman who built a dependable domestic record representing Rajasthan. He also gained valuable on-field experience in the IPL, making 25 appearances between 2011 and 2014. Since retiring from active play, he has remained a fixture in the league’s ecosystem, honing his expertise as a specialised fielding coach over several seasons.
"Yagnik's transition to KKR ahead of the upcoming IPL marks an exciting new chapter in the former cricketer's coaching journey," KKR's statement read.
Yagnik joins KKR at a pivotal time, as the franchise prepares to launch its campaign with a completely revitalised support staff. He is expected to contribute a sharp technical eye and extensive experience to a high-profile coaching unit led by Head Coach Abhishek Nayar and Mentor DJ Bravo. This new-look staff also features Shane Watson as Assistant Coach, Tim Southee as Bowling Coach, and Andre Russell in the role of Power Coach.
Who is Dishant Yagnik?
Dishant is a former Indian cricketer who has transitioned into a successful coaching career, most recently being appointed as the fielding coach for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the 2026 IPL season. Born on June 22, 1983, in Banswara, Rajasthan, he was a prominent wicketkeeper-batsman for the Rajasthan state team in domestic cricket for over a decade. His playing career included a maiden first-class century and a vital role in Rajasthan's 2005–06 Ranji Trophy victory. He also gained experience at the international youth level, representing India's Under-19 team.
As far as IPL is concerned, Yagnik was a mainstay for RR between 2011 and 2015, making 25 appearances and earning a reputation as a reliable presence behind the stumps. Before his IPL stint, he also participated in the rebel Indian Cricket League as a member of the Delhi Giants. After retiring from professional play in 2017, he immediately moved into coaching, serving as the fielding coach for the Rajasthan Royals from 2018 until late 2025.
Beyond his work in the IPL, Yagnik has held significant leadership positions in the Indian domestic circuit. He served as the head coach for Puducherry and has worked as a fielding coach for the Jammu & Kashmir senior men's team.
KKR full squad for IPL 2026
Ajinkya Rahane, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Manish Pandey, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Sunil Narine, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakravarthy, Cameron Green, Umran Malik, Finn Allen, Matheesha Pathirana, Tejasvi Singh, Kartik Tyagi, Prashant Solanki, Rahul Tripathi, Tim Seifert, Sarthak Ranjan, Akash Deep, Daksh Kamra, Rachin Ravindra
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