Defending Champions of Indian Premier League (IPL) suffered a big blow ahead of the IPL 2025 season as their mentor Gautam Gambhir, who played a crucial role to take them all the way to the title last season has now been appointed as the head coach of the Indian Cricket Team. Gambhir has signed up as the successor of outgoing coach Rahul Dravid who recently helped India win the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, For Gambhir, the challenges will be different, which will be to look over the transition of the Indian cricket team as well as fight for the title of ICC Champions Trophy in 2025 as well as the ICC World Test Championship in 2025 as well. Gambhir will also have the challenge to complete the hat-trick of winning the Border Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. Amidst this, his movement and his choice of support staff has landed Kolkata Knight Riders into big trouble. Gautam Gambhir Thanks KKR CEO Venky Mysore for His ‘Constant Support and Encouragement’ After Being Appointed As New Head Coach of Indian Men’s Cricket Team (View Post).

Gautam Gambhir Wants Two KKR Coaches in His Team of Backroom Staff For Team India

After being officially announced as the head coach of the Indian Cricket Team, Gambhir has made it clear to the BCCI that he will have his own support staff in the team. It is very important that there is a level of rapport and trust among the support staff and that is why Gambhir wants to have only people he trusts and knows in the team of support staff. According to reports, he has requested to have KKR assistant coach Abhishek Nayar and KKR fielding coach Ryan ten Doeschate as part of his team of support staff of Team India. If they appointments take place according to his request, KKR will have to fill multiple spots of coaches ahead of the IPL 2025. Gautam Gambhir Wants Ryan ten Doeschate in Team India’s Coaching Staff: Report.

Jacques Kallis Likely to Replace Gautam Gambhir As KKR Support Staff

According to the Telegraph, former South African all-rounder and cricketing legend Jacques Kallis has emerged as the candidate to replace Gautam Gambhir in the backroom staff of KKR. It is yet to be confirmed whether he will be a mentor or an assistant coach. Kallis has been part of KKR from 2011-2014 and was part of the team winning the championship in 2012 and 2014. Kallis has also served as the coach of Kolkata Knight Riders from 2016 to 2019. It won't be unlikely that the franchise will want one of the legends of the game who has already been part of the setup before to take over as the mentor.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 11, 2024 04:43 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).