Gautam Gambhir, the iconic cricketer and former captain of India’s T20 and 50 over World Cup teams, has been named as the ‘Mentor’ of the Kolkata Knight Riders, the IPL franchise owned Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan. Gambhir led KKR to victory in the championships in 2012 and 2014 and has now been brought back to guide the team once again.
After leading KKR from 2011 to 2017, Gambhir parted ways with the franchise and spent the past two seasons as the ‘Mentor’ for the Lucknow Super Giants, who reached the playoffs but were unable to secure the championship title. The arrival of former Australian opener and T20 World Cup winning coach Justin Langer at Lucknow hinted at Gambhir’s exit, which was confirmed after a meeting at Shah Rukh Khan’s Mumbai home.
Venky Mysore, the CEO of KKR, announced Gambhir’s return and his partnership with head coach Chandrakant Pandit. In a press note, Gambhir expressed his excitement about rejoining KKR, stating, “I am back. I am hungry. I am number 23. Ami KKR.” Shah Rukh Khan also welcomed Gambhir back, recognizing him as a key part of the KKR family.
Gambhir, known for his strong leadership and willingness to take control, is expected to have full authority in his new role as ‘Mentor’. This may impact the responsibilities of former Mumbai all-rounder Abhishek Nayar, who previously had a significant role in strategic team matters. KKR fans are hopeful that Gambhir’s return will bring about positive changes for the team after a few challenging seasons.