Gautam Gambhir, the newly appointed mentor for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), has offered serious advice to the players ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Gambhir, who led KKR to two IPL titles during his captaincy, emphasized that the league is not about Bollywood or glamorous off-field activities but an opportunity for players to showcase their skills in one of the most competitive T20 leagues globally. KKR, aiming to regain their winning form, recently signed Gambhir as a mentor and splurged a record-breaking INR 24.75 crore in the IPL 2024 players’ auction to secure Mitchell Starc.
Gambhir highlighted that the IPL is comparable to international cricket and should be treated as a serious cricketing competition. He stressed the significance of delivering on the cricket field to be recognized as a successful franchise. Despite acknowledging the passionate fanbase in Kolkata, Gambhir urged players to focus on on-field performances rather than off-field activities, emphasizing that KKR should be known for their cricketing achievements. The veteran cricketer expressed the need to bring happiness to the loyal KKR fans, who have supported the team through thick and thin. With KKR looking to make a strong comeback after finishing seventh in the previous seasons, Gambhir’s mentorship aims to instill a cricket-first mentality in the team and contribute to their success in the IPL 2024 campaign.