Shah Rukh Khan Reflects on Gambhir's Return to KKR in 2024
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Synopsis
In a recent interview, Shah Rukh Khan, the owner of KKR, expressed his belief that Gautam Gambhir never truly left the franchise. Gambhir's return as a mentor has significantly impacted the team, leading them to victory after a long hiatus, although his stay was brief due to his appointment as head coach of India.
Key Takeaways
- Shah Rukh Khan emphasized his enduring bond with Gautam Gambhir.
- Gambhir's impact was evident with KKR's championship win.
- His return marked a homecoming for the franchise.
- Gambhir's stay was short-lived due to his coaching role with India.
- KKR has appointed Ajinkya Rahane as their new captain.
New Delhi, March 7 (NationPress) The owner of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan, expressed that he never believed Gautam Gambhir had truly departed from the team prior to his return as a mentor for the franchise ahead of the recent Indian Premier League (IPL) season.
Gambhir's comeback proved to be a game changer for KKR, leading them to clinch their third title after a decade-long wait. Under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, the team triumphed over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final to claim the championship.
“I never thought Gautam Gambhir left us. Our relationship has always been wonderful over the years. There are a few players who maintain strong friendships, and Gautam is one of them. For him, it was a significant homecoming,” Shah Rukh shared on JioHotstar's ‘Power Play’.
Unfortunately, Gambhir's tenure with KKR was limited to just the 2024 season, as he was appointed as the head coach of India in July following Rahul Dravid's exit.
Former KKR player Robin Uthappa noted that Gambhir's departure in 2017 created a noticeable void that affected the team's performance.
“When Gautam was no longer with KKR, it seemed unclear how the pieces would fit together. Since he left, there was a loss of direction. At one point, it felt like panic set in. From the outside, it was clear that things weren't as smooth as they should be. KKR is expected to perform at a high level, and when the results fell short of the team's reputation, it became obvious that changes were necessary.
“As soon as I heard that Gautam Gambhir was returning, I tweeted that the best thing to occur for KKR since his departure was his comeback!”
Former Indian player Ajay Jadeja mentioned, “The dynamic between KKR and Sourav Ganguly, in terms of fan interaction and team performance, wasn't yielding positive results. Thus, in 2011, a significant overhaul was initiated. The major transition that year was that, prior to 2011, KKR was viewed as Sourav Ganguly's team. However, from that point onward, it became Shah Rukh Khan's team, with Gautam Gambhir at the helm.”
As the IPL 2025 season approaches, KKR has appointed veteran Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane as their new captain, with all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer serving as vice-captain.
Rahane's previous captaincy experiences include leading Rajasthan Royals to the IPL 2018 playoffs and managing the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant. Once KKR acquired Rahane, it was almost guaranteed that he would lead the team, despite discussions around Iyer, the franchise's most expensive acquisition at ₹23.75 crore, and Rinku Singh as potential captains.
Recently, Rahane captained Mumbai to victory in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he also emerged as the highest run-scorer with 469 runs from nine matches, including five half-centuries, and was named Player of the Tournament.
