Kolkata Knight Riders mentor, Gautam Gambhir seems to be enjoying his new stint. Gautam Gambhir was announced as the mentor of the Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of the IPL 2024. Gautam Gambhir expressed his joy over returning to his 2nd home, Kolkata, as he will mentor the KKR team during IPL 2024. Gautam Gambhir had led KKR to 2 title wins in IPL 2012 and 2014.
Kolkata Knight Riders mentor Gautam Gambhir has ‘serious’ advice for his players ahead of the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League. Gautam Gambhir, who led KKR to two titles during his tenure as captain, said that IPL is not about Bollywood or other glamour attached to it but an opportunity for players to express themselves in the toughest league in the world.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) welcomes Gautam Gambhir
KKR, who won their last IPL title way back in 2014, signed Gautam Gambhir as their mentor as the veteran Indian opener left Lucknow Super Giants after spending two years with them for a homecoming in Kolkata. He was present with other members of KKR at the IPL 2024 players’ auction where the franchise splurged a record-breaking INR 24.75 crore to sign Mitchell Starc.
KKR are only the third franchise after Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians to win multiple IPL titles. However, things have not worked out well for them in the last couple of seasons where they finished seventh spot and failed to reach the playoffs and Gautam Gambhir would look to set things right from the offset.
When Gambhir landed in the city of joy, Kolkata, he received a warm welcome and called the place his second home. He was also thankful to the fans who gave him a rousing welcome at the airport and also called the KKR team an emotion. He had a successful stint with KKR as captain from 2011, where he led the team to 2 title wins in 2012 and 2014.
After his retirement from cricket, Gambhir took over the role of Lucknow Super Giants’ mentor in the 2022 and 2023 seasons. He had a successful stint with coach Andy Flower by providing his useful insights as the team qualified for the play-offs in both the seasons. Gambhir will look to translate his success as a mentor and as well as an ex-captain for KKR. The mentor had already started the practice session of the team on an inspiring note with a motivational speech.
Team Mentor Gautam Gambhir feels ecstatic post his return to KKR for IPL 2024
Gautam Gambhir recently expressed his elation on return to Kolkata Knight Riders(KKR) in the Indian Premier League(IPL) . He was the franchises most successful captain during his playing days winning the IPL trophy twice in 2012 and 2014. The southpaw left the franchise and left for Delhi for the final season in the league in 2018.
Gautam Gambhir then retired and mentored the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) franchise in 2022 and 2023. However KKR managed to bring him back home as a mentor ahead of IPL 2024, much to the delight of their fans.
Gautam Gambhir has already joined the preparatory camp of KKR in Kolkata. He took on his official X handle on Sunday and gave his views on homecoming by sharing a video. He could be seen feeding a fish in the water in the video
“That’s how I feel now. Being put back into KKR waters!” Gambhir wrote.
KKR Team mentor Gautam Gambhir advises players to give everything possible ahead of IPL 2024
Ahead of KKR’s recent practice session in the training camp, Gautam Gambhir addressed all the players and gave an inspirational speech. He urged them to give their all for the team and strive hard to win the trophy. In the video uploaded by the Kolkata franchise, Gambhir said :
“We start the season from today. Whether it is physically, mentally, skill wise, give everything possible. It is a very very proud franchise and a successful franchise. You guys are representing a very successful franchise. Make sure you train that way, you play that way, and you carry that attitude on the field. That is going to be very very important,”
He continued:
“One thing I absolutely believe in, is giving all the freedom to the players. That is something very very important. So, people who have played with me, know one thing about me, that everyone in this group, will be treated equally. There is no senior-junior, there is no domestic-international, because we have got one mission and that is to win the IPL. So everyone has to follow that one simple path,”
KKR are yet to win a trophy since Gambhir last led them to the IPL title in 2014. The franchise won both their IPL trophies under his leadership in 2012 and 2014. KKR finished at 3rd last position in the points table in IPL 2023. Coach Chandrakant Pandit, along with mentor Gautam Gambhir and captain Shreyas Iyer will look to change the fortunes of the team this season. The Kolkata-based franchise will begin their IPL 2024 campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Eden Gardens on March 23.