Shah Rukh Khan, owner of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and a major Bollywood figure, revealed his perspective on Gautam Gambhir rejoining the franchise as a mentor before the most recent Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Khan stated he felt Gambhir had never truly left KKR. Gambhir’s presence proved to be a turning point, as the team secured their third IPL title after a decade-long wait. Under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, KKR triumphed over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final to become champions. “I always maintained a strong and affectionate bond with Gautam over the years. For me, it felt like he was simply returning home,” Shah Rukh Khan expressed on JioHotstar’s ‘Power Play’ program.
However, Gambhir’s tenure with KKR in this role was brief, as he was appointed as the head coach of the Indian national team in July of the previous year, succeeding Rahul Dravid.
Former KKR player Robin Uthappa commented that Gambhir’s departure from KKR in 2017 created a noticeable gap, which affected the team’s subsequent performance.
“When Gautam was no longer with KKR, it felt like—where are the pieces going to settle? Since his exit, there was a slight loss of direction. I think, at one point, panic set in. From the outside, you could sense that things weren’t as smooth as they seemed. You always expect KKR to perform at a high level, and when the performances didn’t match the team’s aura, it became evident that something had to change.
‘As soon as I heard that Gautam Gambhir was coming back, I remember tweeting that the best thing to happen to KKR since Gautam Gambhir leaving, was Gautam Gambhir coming back!”
Ajay Jadeja, another former Indian batter, added context by saying, “The relationship between KKR and Sourav Ganguly, whether with the fans or within the team, wasn’t producing ideal outcomes. Consequently, a significant restructuring was planned in 2011. The most significant change that year was the shift in perception. Before 2011, KKR was largely seen as Sourav Ganguly’s team. But from that point onward, it transitioned into Shah Rukh Khan’s team, with Gautam Gambhir at the helm as captain.”
Looking ahead to the IPL 2025 season, KKR has announced Ajinkya Rahane, a seasoned Indian batter, as their new captain, and Venkatesh Iyer, an all-rounder, as the vice-captain.
Rahane has previously captained Rajasthan Royals, guiding them to the IPL 2018 playoffs, and the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant. Rahane’s inclusion in KKR strongly suggested his captaincy, although there were discussions around Iyer, the franchise’s most expensive acquisition at Rs 23.75 crore, and Rinku Singh as potential leaders.
Rahane recently captained Mumbai to victory in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in domestic cricket, where he also excelled as the tournament’s top scorer with 469 runs in nine matches, including five half-centuries, earning him the Player of the Tournament award.
