Former India opener, Gautam Gambhir, has made a triumphant return to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season. The former cricketer turned Parliamentarian will take on the role of mentor, reuniting with the team where he enjoyed tremendous success as captain.
Gautam Gambhir’s return to KKR comes on the heels of his departure from the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), where he served as the mentor since the team’s inception in 2022.
I’m back. I’m hungry. I’m No.23. Ami KKR ❤️❤️ @KKRiders pic.twitter.com/KDRneHmzN4
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) November 22, 2023
Gambhir played a pivotal role in shaping the team’s fortunes alongside head coach Andy Flower, who left earlier this year. LSG, looking to strengthen their coaching setup, recently appointed Australia’s T20 World Cup-winning coach, Justin Langer, for the upcoming season.
In an emotional farewell message to LSG and its supporters, Gambhir expressed his gratitude, saying, “As I announce the end of my impeccable journey with Lucknow Super Giants, I am filled with love and immense gratitude towards all the players, coaches, support staff, and every individual who has made this journey memorable.”
He further extended his appreciation to Dr. Sanjiv Goenka, the visionary behind the LSG franchise, for his unwavering support. Gambhir concluded by expressing his confidence in LSG’s future prospects, saying, “I’m sure that the team will do wonders in the future and will make every LSG fan proud. All the very best LSG brigade!”
Gambhir’s return to KKR marks a homecoming for the cricketer, where he previously served as captain from 2011 to 2017. His captaincy during this period was nothing short of historic, leading the team to IPL titles in 2012 and 2014, after initially struggling in the early years of the tournament. Under Gambhir’s leadership, KKR qualified for the playoffs on five occasions and reached the finals of the Champions League T20 in 2014.
KKR officially announced Gambhir’s return, stating, “Gautam Gambhir will return to KKR as ‘Mentor’ and join hands with head coach Chandrakant Pandit.”
