Bharat Arun appointed Kolkata Knight Riders bowling coach

Former India bowling coach Bharat Arun has been appointed in the same position by Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of the upcoming 15th edition of the IPL.

"We are very excited to have someone of the calibre of Bharat Arun joining us as our bowling coach," Venky Mysore, Knight Riders' CEO & MD, said in a statement. "He will bring a wealth of experience and expertise to KKR's strong support staff. We are delighted to welcome him to the Knight Riders family."

Arun, a medium-pacer who played two Tests and four ODIs between 1986 and 1987, brings with himself considerable coaching experience, having had two stints with India's national side - first from 2014 to 2015, and then from 2017 till the end of the T20 World Cup in 2021.

Before that, he was part of the India team which won the Under-19 World Cup in 2012, and has also been a part of the coaching staff at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, other than being with India's domestic teams Tamil Nadu and Bengal.

"I'm very excited and looking forward to becoming part of a highly successful franchise, such as the Knight Riders," Arun said. "I have admired the Knight Riders franchise for not only being very successful in the IPL and around the world in T20 leagues but also for the way it is very professionally run."

His time with Knight Riders will not be the first time in the IPL. He spent three seasons - 2015 to 2017 - with Royal Challengers Bangalore as their bowling coach before he became part of the India set-up.

"With a strong and successful pedigree in the international game, I'm sure Arun will complement the current staff we have and I look forward to working with him," Brendon McCullum, the Knight Riders head coach, said. "His experience at international level and the ability to give confidence and clarity to our bowling group will be important, as we attempt to quickly align a new group of players to the values and style of play for KKR."