The Kolkata Knight Riders, champions of IPL 2024, seek to find a new team mentor going into this season. Gautam Gambhir played a massive role in mentoring KKR to their recent success and has left the franchise after an offer to become the head coach of the Indian national team. The move has caused a huge void in KKR’s coaching set-up as Gambhir took the key support staff Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate along with him to the Indian dressing room.

KKR Eyeing To Rope In Jacques Kallis

With support staff needing replenishment, KKR have initiated the hunt for Gambhir’s replacement and if Sangbad Pratidin’s report is anything to go by then former KKR all-rounder Jacques Kallis has emerged as the front-runner. Kallis, who played a key role in KKR’s title victories in the seasons of 2012 and 2014 under Gambhir’s captaincy, has past connections to the franchise with the coaching staff too.

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He was the batting consultant for KKR in 2015 and eventually assumed the head coaching job in 2016 after Trevor Bayliss left. Now, the franchise is mulling over roping in Kallis to support head coach Chandrakant Pandit.

Ricky Ponting & Kumar Sangakkara In The Race

The two other names in the running for the job are that of Aussie legend Ricky Ponting and former Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Sangakkara. While Ponting recently parted ways with Delhi Capitals, Sangakkara was replaced at the helm by former Indian captain Rahul Dravid at Rajasthan Royals. Though Sangakkara is expected to remain with the Royals in the capacity of Director of Operations, KKR is now mainly deliberating between Ponting and Kallis as the top two options for the post.

Kolkata Knight Riders- The Winning Time Of IPL 2024

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) led by Shreyas Iyer won their 3rd IPL title with a smashing eight-wicket win over Pat Cummins-led Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The Knight Riders, won their previous IPL titles under the guidance of Gautam Gambhir in 2012 and 2014. This year, 2024 KKR dominated the league stage of Indian Premier League (IPL), finishing at the top with nine wins from 14 matches.

The hero of India’s triumph in the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup, Gautam Gambhir, was back this season with KKR as their mentor. His influence has been key to guiding the team to victory and culminated in an emphatic win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final.