KKR's next coach decided? Kevin Pietersen makes bold prediction

NEW DELHI: Kolkata Knight Riders are enduring a nightmare tally successful IPL 2026, inactive searching for answers aft slumping to their 5th decision of the season. They beryllium stone bottommost with conscionable 1 point, which came from a rain-hit fixture against Punjab Kings.

The 2024 champions person faltered crossed departments - batting, bowling and fielding - and the vexation has been disposable connected skipper Ajinkya Rahane and his teammates successful the dugout.Amid the slide, erstwhile England batter Kevin Pietersen made a bold call, predicting a large coaching shake-up. He suggested that KKR could crook to their erstwhile manager Brendon McCullum adjacent season.“Baz McCullum volition beryllium the manager of KKR adjacent season.

Bookmark this tweet,” Pietersen said.KKR had already revamped their coaching setup up of IPL 2026, appointing Abhishek Nayar arsenic caput manager successful spot of Chandrakant Pandit, but the determination hasn’t delivered results truthful far. McCullum, meanwhile, is presently serving arsenic England’s caput manager and remains contracted until the 2027 World Cup.McCullum has a agelong relation with KKR, having played for them betwixt 2008–2010 and again from 2012–2013.

He aboriginal returned arsenic caput manager from 2020 to 2022, guiding the franchise to the IPL 2021 final.

KKR’s struggles this play are reflected successful the standings. They are yet to triumph a match, losing 5 retired of six games, with 1 no-result, and clasp a nett tally complaint of -1.149. Their defeats person travel against Mumbai Indians (6 wickets), Sunrisers Hyderabad (65 runs), Lucknow Super Giants (3 wickets), Chennai Super Kings (32 runs) and Gujarat Titans (5 wickets), coating a grim representation of their run truthful far.

What did Rahane say?KKR skipper Rahane admitted it was different demoralising decision but chose to absorption connected the positives."It's ne'er casual to travel retired and speech instantly aft losing a game. But I'd similar to absorption connected the positives. The mode we started, losing 3 wickets early, it was tough," said Rahane aft the five-wicket loss."Cameron Green’s innings was outstanding, helium was nether pressure, but the mode helium counterattacked and took connected their bowlers was astonishing to see. At 147 for 4, getting to astir 180 was somewhat hard for america arsenic a batting unit," helium added."I inactive privation to recognition our bowlers. It’s not casual erstwhile things aren’t going your way, but they kept coming backmost and pushing hard."