IPL: KKR Begin Scouting for Gautam Gambhir’s Replacement, Surprise Name Emerges as a Top Pick

With the exit of Gautam Gambhir for national duty as the coach, the Kolkata Knight Riders are left hanging without a mentor. Gambhir made his grand return in the IPL 2024 season and successfully led them to their third title win. Gambhir built a formidable side which went toe-to-toe against some of this season's dominant franchises. Now that the mentor is off to take over as the coach of the Indian National Cricket Team, the Kolkata franchise management has begun their search to crown their next mentor. An interesting development has surfaced as the team may have keen interest in getting the services of a former franchise star and legend.

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KKR legend and IPL 2012 Winner emerges as surprise pick to succeed Gautam Gambhir as mentor 

Recently, reports surfaced that the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have approached outgoing Team India coach Rahul Dravid to grace the franchise and succeed Gambhir. The moment would have been one of the biggest swaps ever. However, new updates have revealed that they might be looking into bringing a franchise legend and former all-rounder who won the first IPL title with the Knight Riders back in 2012 when Gambhir led the side as the skipper.

As per The Telegraph, former South Africa all-rounder and franchise legend Jacques Kallis' name has emerged as a potential candidate to succeed Gautam Gambhir as the mentor. GG and Kallis worked as teammates and won the Kolkata Knight Riders' first Indian Premier League title in 2012 when they defeated the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings.

"The franchise is also on the lookout for a replacement for Gambhir, who was key to its third IPL crown this year. The name of legendary South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis, who had coached KKR in 2019, is also doing the rounds," the report stated.

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Apart from competing as a player, Jacques Kallis has also coached KKR for four season till the year 2019, after which he joined South Africa National Cricket Team as their batting consultant.

The return of Jacques Kallis might do the job for the Kolkata Knight Riders. They already have a credible coach in Chandrakant Pandit and a potent team who could dominate in the coming seasons down the years. But it will be interesting to see who will the franchise management brings as Gambhir's successor.