Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) co-owner Shah Rukh Khan has revealed that he never truly felt Gautam Gambhir had parted ways with the franchise. Despite Gambhir’s absence from KKR in recent years, Shah Rukh always believed he remained an integral part of the team. Gambhir, who led KKR to two IPL titles in 2012 and 2014, made a triumphant return as head coach before the 2024 season. Under his guidance and Shreyas Iyer’s leadership, KKR clinched their third IPL title, marking a spectacular turnaround for the franchise.
“I never thought Gautam Gambhir left us. There has always been a lovely relationship with him over the years. There are a few players with whom friendships remain strong, and Gautam is one of them. For him, it was a big homecoming,” Shah Rukh Khan shared on JioHotstar.
However, Gambhir’s return to KKR was short-lived, as he was appointed as India’s head coach after the conclusion of IPL 2024, succeeding Rahul Dravid. His departure once again left KKR at a crossroads. Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa reflected on Gambhir’s impact on KKR and the uncertainty the team faced in his absence.
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“When Gautam was no longer with KKR, it felt like—where are the pieces going to settle? The team lost a bit of direction. Panic set in at one point. From the outside, you could tell things weren’t as smooth. KKR always carries a certain aura, and when performances didn’t match that, it became clear something had to change. As soon as I heard Gambhir was coming back, I tweeted that the best thing to happen to KKR since Gambhir leaving was Gambhir coming back!” Robin Uthappa remarked.
Former India opener Aakash Chopra also credited Gambhir’s leadership for KKR’s resurgence.
“When Gambhir returned as a mentor and built the squad, four pillars stood out. First, unwavering faith in Mitchell Starc. Second, the bold move of promoting Sunil Narine as an opener. Third, bringing Shreyas Iyer back into the fold. And finally, investing in young talent,” Aakash Chopra analyzed.
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Meanwhile, KKR have made a bold move by releasing their title-winning captain Shreyas Iyer and naming Ajinkya Rahane as their new skipper for IPL 2025. Rahane, who previously played for KKR in 2022, was acquired for INR 1.5 crore in the accelerated auction. Madhya Pradesh all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer has been named as his deputy.
As the defending champions, KKR will begin their IPL 2025 campaign with a high-voltage clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Eden Gardens on March 22.
