"There's A Lump In My Throat": Gautam Gambhir Emotional After Being Appointed KKR Mentor

Gautam Gambhir has said he is struggling to contain his emotions after being appointed as the mentor of Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of the next season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Kolkata-based outfit, on Wednesday (November 22), announced the return of their former skipper in a new role.

Gautam Gambhir has a strong bond with KKR after spending seven seasons with them as their captain. The former India opener was signed up by KKR in 2011 which saw him become the highest player in the history of IPL at that time. He totally justified his huge price tag by transforming KKR from underperformers to one of the powerhouses.

In his very first season, he led the team to its first-ever playoffs before guiding it to the maiden IPL title the very next year. In 2014, he led KKR to their second IPL title. Overall, KKR won two IPL titles and made it to the playoffs five times in addition to qualifying for the final of the 2014 Champions League T20 under Gautam Gambhir’s captaincy.

He stayed with the franchise for seven years before returning to Delhi Capitals, his first-ever IPL team. After retiring as a player, Gautam Gambhir joined Lucknow Super Giants as a mentor in 2022 and plied his trade for two seasons. In both seasons, the Lucknow-based outfit made it to the playoffs but failed to advance to the finals.

Gautam Gambhir gets emotional:

Speaking on his return, Gautam Gambhir said that while he is not an emotional person, his return to KKR has moved him. The India great stated that he is struggling to contain his emotions and cannot wait to don the famous purple and gold jersey once again.

“I am not an emotional person and not many things move me. But this is different. This is back to where it all started. Today, there is a lump in my throat and fire in my heart as I think about slipping into that purple and gold jersey once again,” said Gautam Gambhir.

“I am not only coming back to KKR but I am coming back to the city of joy. I am back. I am hungry. I am number 23. Ami KKR,” he added.