Kolkata Knight Riders Rope In Brendon McCullum As Their Head Coach

Indian Premier League giants Kolkata Knight Riders have roped in former New Zealand skipper and their former player Brendon McCullum as their head coach. Brendon McCullum will replace Jacques Kallis who served the Knight Riders as coach since October 2015. Kallis had stepped down from the post last month.

Kallis had replaced Trevor Bayliss after the latter resigned to take over as head coach of England cricket team in June 2015. Before becoming the coach, Kallis played for the Kolkata-basted outfit and was the batting consultant for the team in 2015.

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Kallis’ track record as a coach was a decent one. While he did not lead the Knight Riders to the title and the final, he made sure to keep the team in hunt throughout. In four seasons under him, the Knight Riders made it to the playoffs thrice. They missed the playoffs berth this season as they finished fifth in the eight-team table.

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Brendon McCullum, meanwhile, is not new to the Knight Riders franchise. He had two stints as a player with the team  between 2008 and 2010 and then again for the 2012-13 seasons. His association with the franchise goes beyond as well, having played for Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League.

? The announcement you all have been waiting for! ?

Put your hands together and welcome @Bazmccullum, our new Head Coach ?#WelcomeBackBaz #KorboLorboJeetbo pic.twitter.com/tDYz1V9IGz

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) August 15, 2019

“It’s a great honour to take on this responsibility,” said McCullum, who recently announced his retirement as a player.

“The Knight Rider franchises in IPL & CPL have become iconic and have set the standard in franchise cricket. We have fantastic squads in both KKR & TKR and I along with the support staff will be looking to build on the successes both franchises have enjoyed,” he added.

Expectations will be high from Brendon McCullum as the Knight Riders search for their first IPL title since 2014. The Knight Riders, meanwhile, have also parted ways with their assistant coach Simon Katich.

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