Former India opener Gautam Gambhir is rumored to be returning to his former IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and could be part of the coaching staff for IPL 2024. Gambhir has a long-standing association with the Shah Rukh-owned franchise.
Gambir was acquired by the KKR franchise in the 2011 IPL auction where the opener was the most expensive player sold for $2.4 million. He was soon appointed the captain of the franchise and repaid the faith by winning two IPL titles with KKR. He won his IPL for his KKR franchise in 2012 and his 2014.
Gambir then applied for release from KKR ahead of IPL 2018 and moved to his hometown in the national capital of Delhi. However, midway through the tournament, he was replaced as captain by Shreyas Iyer, who resigned due to poor form and withdrew from the IPL at the end of the season.
It was previously reported that Gambhir will miss the 2024 IPL season due to his involvement in the Sabah elections. He is currently the Member of Parliament for East Delhi constituency.
“Yes, Mr. Gautam Gambhir is likely to take leave until the next IPL only due to political commitments. He will be transferred to another team or leave the franchise. Not really. There will be a lot of political work before the parliamentary elections and he wants to focus all his energy on that,” a source told CricketNext in August.
However, according to the latest report in Jagran News, Gautam Gambhir is set to return to the KKR franchise ahead of the 2024 IPL season. And he will be part of the coaching staff led by Chandrakant Pandit.
Gautam Gambhir Set To Do Homecoming To Kolkata Knight Riders
Gautam Gambhir coached LSG in the last two tournaments. However, it seems that his association with the Lucknow-based franchise is coming to an end as he is planning to join hands with his KKR as per recent reports.
As per a report in Jagran News, Gambhir recently met KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan at his home in Mumbai to discuss his role in the team. On Thursday, September 21, Gautam Gambhir shared a photo with famous movie stars Shah Rukh and Khan on his social media platforms.
He’s not just the king of Bollywood but the king of hearts. Every time we meet I go back with endless love and respect . So much to learn from u . Simply the best ❤️❤️ SRK @iamsrk pic.twitter.com/VcMV1QahUq
– Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) 21. September 2023
It is important to note that there is no official announcement regarding Gautam Gambhir’s future at KKR.
