Veteran commentator Aakash Chopra expects former India player Gautam Gambhir to bring some notable changes in the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) setup after joining KKR as a mentor before the IPL 2024 auction. However, Gambhir mentored the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the last two IPL seasons and took them to the playoffs on both occasions as well. He has now returned to the KKR camp as a mentor and helps the side as well.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said: “Gautam Gambhir has gone to Kolkata, which has come as a bit of a surprise because he was doing very well for Lucknow. He mentored them for two years and took the team forward as well, the team reached the playoffs both times. If he has gone, he will do something interesting.”
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He again added: “There is no doubt he is a good choice. Lucknow’s loss is Kolkata’s gain. He will try to get turning pitches made because whether he is the captain or coach, he likes turning pitches, bowler-friendly. They have three spinners in the form of Sunil Narine, Suyash Sharma and Varun Chakravarthy, and the option of Anukul Roy.”
However, Aakash Chopra feels the 2012 and 2014 IPL champions could release Shardul Thakur and Lockie Ferguson to make a bigger purse available for the auction as well. He isn’t sure whether they would look to retain Andre Russell as well, considering his recent performance. Aakash Chopra also feels the Rajasthan Royals (RR) trading in Avesh Khan from the Lucknow Super Giants is a welcome acquisition as well. He also opined that Devdutt Padikkal, who moved from RR to LSG, should bat in the top three for the franchise as well.
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“Avesh Khan will be useful for Rajasthan. Prasidh Krishna, Trent Boult, Obed McCoy and Avesh Khan – they needed a death bowler. They have Sandeep Sharma. Avesh Khan doesn’t have great numbers. He might be seen playing today (first T20I against Australia). It will be interesting how he gets set there,” Aakash Chopra concluded. “Similarly, it will be interesting to see how Lucknow use Devdutt Padikkal. In my opinion, don’t play him below No. 3. Actually his right number is opening but he won’t get a spot as an opener. Play him at No. 3 for sure.”
