IPL 2026: Bharat Arun leaves KKR to join LSG as bowling coach

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) has hired Bharat Arun, a former India pacer, as its bowling coach for the forthcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season in 2026. LSG, one of the newest franchises in the super league, has welcomed the seasoned campaigner who formerly played for the Kolkata Knight Riders.

Bharat Arun had been with the three-time champions for four years, but he will now join LSG to lead the team to their first title.

The Lucknow-based franchise already has Zaheer Khan as a trainer. However, because Zaheer joined the team on a one-year contract, Arun was most likely brought in as a cover. His departure from KKR is unsurprising given that Dwayne Bravo, a T20 specialist, is already on the team. Bravo, like Zaheer, is a mentor for the Knight Riders and is now expected to fulfil a dual duty.

Previously, there were suggestions that Arun would join five-time champions Chennai Super Kings, but with that prospect ruled out for the time being, the 62-year-old will try to lead Rishabh Pant and his team to a successful campaign in 2026. Arun will bring over a decade of expertise leading elite franchises and international teams to glory now that he has left KKR.

Knight Riders likely to revamp coaching staff

The Vijaywada-born is not the only part of the coaching staff to be leaving KKR. The side led by Ajinkya Rahane in 2025, also bid adieu to its long-standing head coach Chandrakant Pandit. The franchise mentioned that Pandit has left with an intention to explore opportunities outside, and both have signed off on happy terms. Unlike Arun, there is no information if Pandit has joined hands with any other IPL team. He will be a hot pick for any team, though, since he has coached teams like KKR, Vidarbha, MP, and Mumbai to multiple title wins in the last decade or so.