Gautam Gambhir was again seen in the Purple and Gold Jersey in the Indian Premier League (IPL), but not as a player but as a mentor for the team. He will be seen in the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) camp from the 2024 season.
Earlier he was mentoring the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in 2022 and 2023 and took his team to the playoffs in both the times and finishing 3rd in each season.
He is known as one of the greatest captains in this short format as he took KKR on road to champions in 2012 and 2014. Under his captainship KKR was seen in the playoffs in 2011 which was first time for the team also. He was the captain for the team in 107 matches.
The owner of the team Superstar Shahrukh Khan said on his joining,
“Gautam has always been a 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 Chandrakant Pandit Sir and Gautam in instilling the never say die spirit and of sportsmanship they stand for, in creating magic with Team KKR.”
After joining the team as a mentor, Gambhir said,
“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.”
He will join the team along with Chandrakant Pandit (head coach), Abhishek Nayar (assistant coach), Bharat Arun (bowling coach) and Ryan ten Doeschate (fielding coach).