Gautam Gambhir’s return to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) franchise as a mentor proved to be a masterstroke, as the team clinched their third IPL title in 2024 after more than a decade. Gambhir, who was credited for his strategic acumen and inspirational mentorship, which ultimately guided KKR to this triumph.
According to KKR pacer Harshit Rana, Gambhir’s unwavering commitment and sacrifices were instrumental for the Knights’ success. Rana revealed that Gambhir had left his political career behind to focus solely on KKR’s campaign, working tirelessly day and night to help the team win the coveted trophy.
Gambhir left everything for KKR, says Rana
“Gambhir Bhaiya left his political career and everything behind for KKR. He left politics and came back to KKR, and he worked day and night hard just to make KKR win the trophy. He is so involved in KKR. I am genuinely telling you that he did his best to win this trophy. He left everything just to win the KKR trophy,” Rana said on the ‘Unplugged’ podcast.
More on Gambhir
Back in 2019, Gambhir joined politics and won elections from East Delhi. He even served as a mentor for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) during 2022 and 2023 season, where the new-comers qualified consecutively. On March 2 earlier this year, Gambhir quit the politics due to his commitments with KKR.
Gambhir – Next Indian coach?
The former India opener’s unwavering support and faith in the team, including backing young talents like Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora, played a crucial role in their development and the team’s overall success. Gambhir’s success with KKR has also made him a strong contender to replace Rahul Dravid as the head coach of the Indian team. His success caught the attention of the BCCI, and his appointment could be on the cards after the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 as well.
