Ex-Captain of Kolkata Knight Riders Gautam Gambhir returns as team mentor
Gautam Gambhir, who was the captain of the IPL franchise when the Kolkata Knight Riders won the IPL in 2012 and 2014, has linked up with the franchise as the team's mentor, starting with the upcoming season in 2024.
"I am not an emotional person, and not many things move me. But this is different," Gambhir said in a statement. "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."
Gambhir, a T20 2007 and ODI 2011 World Cup champion, joined Knight Riders in 2011 and was with the team till 2017. During the period, Knight Riders qualified for the IPL playoffs five times, including the two years they won the tournament, and also reached the final of the now-defunct Champions League T20 in 2014.
Team co-owner Shah Rukh Khan said that "Gautam has always been part of the family, and this is our captain coming back home in a different avatar as a 'Mentor'. He further said that "he was sorely missed, and now we all look forward to Chandrakant Pandit Sir and Gautam instilling the never-say-die spirit and sportsmanship they stand for in creating magic with Team KKR."