Tim Southee Appointed Kolkata Knight Riders Bowling Coach for IPL 2026

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have named New Zealand cricket star Tim Southee as their Bowling Coach for the IPL 2026 season. With years of international experience, strong cricket knowledge, and previous ties with the team, Southee is set to be a key part of KKR’s coaching setup. One of the most accomplished fast bowlers of his generation, Southee has been a cornerstone of New Zealand cricket for over 15 years.

Having represented his country in 100+ Test matches, over 150 ODIs, and 120+ T20 Internationals, Southee has claimed more than 700 international wickets across formats. Renowned for his swing, accuracy, and leadership, he captained New Zealand in multiple formats and played pivotal roles in their 2019 ICC World Cup campaign and the 2021 ICC World Test Championship victory.

Tim Southee Returns to KKR as Bowling Coach for IPL 2026

Tim Southee is already familiar to the KKR family, having played for Kolkata Knight Riders in 2021, 2022, and 2023. He was known for his professionalism and for guiding younger players, leaving a positive mark both on and off the field before he retired from international cricket in 2025.

“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,” Venky Mysore.

“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,” Southee said.

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 bowlers ahead of IPL 2026 auction: Anrich Nortje, Chetan Sakariya, Harshit Rana, Mayank Markande, Shivam Shukla, Spencer Johnson, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy, Umran Malik

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by IPL Web Desk November 14, 2025