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Gautam Gambhir had a dream return to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the India Premier League (IPL) 2024. Gambhir yet again led KKR to an IPL title, this time not as a captain but as a mentor. This was third IPL title that Gambhir witnessed with the KKR franchise, two as a captain and one as a mentor.
Following this successful run, Gambhir was recently appointed as the head coach of the Indian team after Rahul Dravid's tenure ended with the T20 World Cup 2024. Consequently, Gambhir will have to leave his position at KKR from IPL 2025 due to a conflict of interest.
Jacques Kallis to become KKR's new mentor?
The franchise had reportedly approached Dravid to replace Gambhir, but a new candidate has emerged. According to a report by The Telegraph, Kolkata Knight Riders are considering legendary South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis for the mentor role vacated by Gambhir. Kallis previously served as KKR's head coach from IPL 2016 to 2019 and was a player for the franchise from 2011 to 2014, during which he won two IPL titles.
Jacques Kallis has experience working as a batting consultant for both South Africa and England cricket teams. There were reports that the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) franchise considered Rahul Dravid as a coaching option after he stepped down from his role as the head coach of the Indian cricket team. This would have been an interesting turn of events, as it would have seen Dravid and Gautam Gambhir essentially swapping jobs.
On the other hand, it is expected that Gautam Gambhir will bring some members of the KKR coaching staff with him to the Indian team. Abhishek Nayar, currently an assistant coach at KKR, is reportedly a frontrunner to become Gambhir's assistant with the Indian team. Additionally, there are reports that Gambhir is interested in bringing on Ryan Ten Doeschate, the current KKR fielding coach, to take on the same role with the Indian team.
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Gautam Gambhir has been appointed as the head coach of the Indian team until the end of 2027. During his tenure, he will oversee five ICC trophy campaigns, the WTC in 2025 and 2027, the Champions Trophy in 2025, the T20 World Cup in 2026, and the ODI World Cup in 2027. His first assignment as head coach will be the tour to Sri Lanka, where India will play three T20Is and three ODIs. For this tour, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are expected to rest, with KL Rahul likely to captain the ODI side and Hardik Pandya leading the T20I team.
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