IPL 2024: Gautam Gambhir Appointed Kolkata Knight Riders Mentor After Leaving Lucknow Super Giants

Kolkata Knight Riders, on Wednesday (November 22), announced the return of their former captain Gautam Gambhir as mentor ahead of the next season of the Indian Premier League. The former India and KKR opener will join hands with head coach Chandrakant Pandit at the Kolkata-based outfit.

Gautam Gambhir enjoyed a highly successful stint as a player with KKR. After playing for Delhi Capitals (then Delhi Daredevils) in the first three IPL seasons, he moved to Kolkata in 2011 after the franchise spent a record $2.4 million to secure his services. The huge bid made him the highest-paid cricketer in the history of IPL at that time.

The India great spent seven seasons with KKR from 2011 to 2017 and led them in all the seasons. During his captaincy stint, he completely transformed the fortunes of the franchise and made it one of the powerhouses of the IPL.

In his very first season, he led the team to its first-ever IPL playoffs before guiding them to the title in 2012 and 2014. Overall, KKR won the IPL twice, qualified for the playoffs five times, and reached the finals of the Champions League T20 in 2014 under Gautam Gambhir’s captaincy.

Gautam Gambhir returns to KKR:

After retiring as a player, Gautam Gambhir served as the mentor of Lucknow Super Giants in the last two IPL seasons. The Lucknow-based outfit made it to the playoffs in both seasons. Gautam Gambhir will now be playing the same role for KKR and the franchise would be hoping that he transforms their fortunes once again as they eye their third IPL title and first since 2014.

“Gautam has always been part of the family and this is our Captain coming back home in a different avatar as a “Mentor”. He was sorely missed and now we all look forward to Chandu Sir and Gautam in instilling the never-say-die spirit and of sportsmanship they stand for, in creating magic with Team KKR,” said Shah Rukh Khan, the co-owner of the franchise.

❤️❤️ LSG Brigade! pic.twitter.com/xfG3YBu6l4

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) November 22, 2023

Welcome home, mentor @GautamGambhir! ?

Full story: https://t.co/K9wduztfHg#AmiKKR pic.twitter.com/inOX9HFtTT

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) November 22, 2023