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Gautam Gambhir - (Source-BCCI/IPL)
Indian cricket is set for exciting times as they are about to know their next coach in the next few days. Rahul Dravid is set to step down from the role nearly 3 years into the role after the T20 World Cup, which ends in over a week.
It is now well known that Gautam Gambhir is set to take over from Rahul Dravid as the next national coach. This move now leaves Kolkata Knight Riders in huge strife as they are set to lose their star former skipper turned mentor.
Gambhir had returned to the Eden Gardens dugout just before the start of the IPL 2024 season. His impact was well received as he formed a good rapport with the coaching staff and the players to help KKR win their 3rd IPL title.
The question now arises, where does KKR go from here? It is well known that once Gambhir left the team, KKR weren’t the force they were before. His return sparked new enthusiasm and life into the franchise and made them a formidable team again.
Challenging and uncertain times ahead for KKR?
Gautam Gambhir, if chosen as the coach of the Indian team, will have to relinquish his position as the mentor of the IPL side. This will create a huge issue for the team as they would have to appoint a new man in charge.
That could be a tricky situation as it will take time and effort for the new man to assimilate and blend into the system. The 2011 World Cup winner was part of the system having spent 7 years with the franchise and winning two titles as the skipper.
Chandrakant Pandit was more than happy to let Gambhir take the pseudo role of the coach and dictate terms on the field. With Gambhir now set to depart, the mantle of assembling the team to its core will fall on the shoulders of Chandrakant Pandit.
That entire rebuilding phase won’t be easy as there is an IPL mega action set for next year. It was Gambhir who had KKR go over the odds and break the bank of Mitchell Starc for the IPL 2024 season.
It is no secret that Gautam Gambhir pulled the strings behind the scenes and had a huge say in the players that were signed. Once the move is confirmed, the entire landscape of Kolkata Knight Riders could change once more. What will be India’s gain could very soon turn out to be KKR’s loss as they head into the new season as the defending champions?