Former cricketer Gautam Gambhir returned to the Kolkata Knight Riders or KKR
as the ‘mentor’ of the franchise and will join hands with head coach
Chandrakant Pandit, announced the team.
Earlier, Gambhir was associated with the Kolkata-based franchise from
2011 to 2017, which is considered the golden period of KKR. During this period,
the team won the Indian Premier League (IPL) twice, qualified for the playoffs
five times, and reached the finals of the Champions League T20 in 2014.
Speaking on his return, the former India opener said this move made him
emotional since he will be returning to his former team.
Gambhir also added that he is not only coming back to the franchise but
to the ‘City of Joy’.
“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.
I am not only coming back to KKR but I am coming back to the city of joy.
I am back. I am hungry. I am number 23. Ami KKR,” Gambhir said as quoted by a
release from KKR.
On the other hand, Shah Rukh Khan said the left-handed batter was sorely
missed and now they all look forward to working with him.
“Gautam has always been 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 Chandu Sir and Gautam
in instilling the never-say-die spirit and sportsmanship, they stand for, in
creating magic with Team KKR,” remarked SRK.
In the previous season of the IPL, Gambhir served as the mentor of the
Lucknow-based franchise. In IPL 2023, LSG finished the season in third place on
the standings with 17 points after winning eight out of 14 games.
ANI
