Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir has announced his departure from the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) IPL franchise and his return to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Gambhir, who previously captained KKR to two IPL titles, will now take on the role of a mentor for the team. The decision was confirmed by KKR’s CEO Venky Mysore, and co-owner Shah Rukh Khan expressed his excitement, referring to Gambhir’s return as the “return of their captain.”
Gambhir had served as the mentor for LSG for the past two years, helping the team reach the final in the 2022 edition of the IPL. However, in the 2023 campaign, LSG finished third in the league standings but failed to qualify for the final for the second consecutive time.
In an emotional Twitter post, Gambhir bid farewell to the Super Giants and expressed his gratitude towards all the players, coaches, and support staff who made his journey with LSG memorable. He also thanked Dr. Sanjiv Goenka, the owner of LSG, for his inspiring leadership and support. Gambhir expressed confidence in the future success of the team and wished them the best.
Following his departure from LSG, Gambhir announced his return to KKR through another Twitter post. He expressed his excitement and hunger to be back with the team, stating, “I am not only coming back to KKR but I am coming back to the city of joy.”
Shah Rukh Khan welcomed Gambhir back to KKR and described his return as a homecoming in a different role as a mentor. He expressed his anticipation for Gambhir and coach Chandu Sir to instill the never-say-die spirit and sportsmanship that they stand for, and create magic with Team KKR.
Gambhir’s return to KKR is expected to bring a wealth of experience and leadership to the team as they aim for further success in the upcoming IPL seasons.
