With IPL defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) bidding farewell to their former skipper and mentor Gautam Gambhir, the team is on the lookout for a good mentor who can try and fill the huge boots of Gautam Gambhir. With many names in circulation the primary names include Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly among others.
Former Indian Greats to Take Up KKR Mentor Role?
Rahul 'The Wall' Dravid is likely to make a return to the Indian Premier League, with rumors suggesting he might be appointed as the mentor of the current champions, Kolkata Knight Riders. Reports indicate that Shah Rukh Khan's team has approached Dravid for this role as part of a swap.
Gautam Gambhir, who previously mentored KKR to their third IPL title, has been officially named the Head Coach of the Indian team by the BCCI. If these reports are confirmed, it will mark Dravid's third association with an IPL team.
Dravid has previously played for Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals. For RCB, he scored 1,132 runs between 2008 and 2010. For RR, he played 52 matches from 2011 to 2013, amassing 1,324 runs at a strike rate of 108.88. He later served as a mentor for Rajasthan Royals from 2014 to 2015 and also mentored Team India during their England tour.
After an illustrious career, Dravid retired on a high note with India's victory in the T20 World Cup 2024. He also made a gesture of reducing his T20 victory bonus for the support staff. As India's Head Coach, Dravid earned an annual salary of Rs 12 crore. As an IPL mentor, Dravid will have another chance to win the trophy that eluded him during his time with RR.
Sourav Ganguly has proven to be a good leader for Team India as the team under his leadership shared the 2000 Champions Trophy and finished as runner-ups in the 2003 ODI World Cup.
Also Read: Rahul Dravid Cuts T20 World Cup Bonus by Rs. 2.5 Crore, Advocates Equal Reward: Report