Gautam Gambhir's appointment as India's new head coach means that Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will be without a mentor for the next season. Gambhir's tenure has led them to three Indian Premier League titles, two as captain and one as mentor. Meanwhile, some media reports have revealed that the KKR management is already looking for Gambhir's replacement.
Who will be the next mentor of KKR Team after Gautam Gambhir?
- According to a report in The Telegraph, South African great and former franchise coach Jacques Kallis is the frontrunner to replace Gambhir as KKR's mentor. Although Chandrakant Pandit is set to continue as the team's head coach, Kallis' appointment could see him take on a role similar to Gambhir's.
- The report added, "The franchise is also looking for a replacement for Gambhir, who was crucial to their third IPL title this year. The name of South African great all-rounder Jacques Kallis, who coached KKR in 2019, is also in the news."
- Interestingly, Kallis was part of the 2012 and 2014 IPL title-winning Kolkata squads when Gambhir was the captain of the side. After his retirement in 2014, Kallis joined KKR as batting consultant in 2015, followed by his appointment as the team's coach after Trevor Bayliss' departure. He stayed with KKR till 2019 and then joined the South African side as batting consultant.
- KKR may also need a batting coach apart from a mentor. According to reports, KKR batting consultant Abhishek Nayar is also in the race to join Gambhir's support staff as an assistant coach in Team India. Meanwhile, Gambhir will begin his tenure as India's head coach with the Sri Lanka tour. The former India opener replaced Rahul Dravid in the position.
Image Source: KKR X
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