3 reasons why KKR won't have any troubles managing Gautam Gambhir's departure from team
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) would not have anticipated a seismic shift right after ending their decade-long drought for the Indian Premier League (IPL). After one of the most dominant campaigns in the history of the competition, the franchise have no choice but to watch their side being integrated.
A mega auction ahead of the 2025 edition means that they will have to part ways with a lot of their match-winners. To add to that, Gambhir's impact with the side has led him to the Team India head coach job, with batting coach Abhishek Nayar also expected to join forces soon.
Gambhir's highly anticipated return, which was validated by KKR eventually winning the trophy, lasted only a single season. Rahul Dravid's contract ending and Gambhir leading KKR to the title aligned together, resulting in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that the former opening batter could not refuse.
Gambhir's departure does not mean the end of glory days for KKR by any means. On that note, let us take a look at three reasons why KKR won't have any trouble managing Gautam Gambhir's departure from the team.
#1 KKR have to start fresh anyway because of the mega auctions
In an ideal world, KKR would have loved for Gambhir to oversee the mammoth upcoming transition period. However, all is not lost for KKR as it allows them for a fresh batch of players to play alongside the core.
KKR had to embrace change anyway in the form of the inevitable mega auction. Coupled with Gambhir and potentially Nayar's exit, the franchise can implement a shake-up in the backroom staff as well apart right alongside the shift in the main squad.
With both shake-ups happening simultaneously, there is a greater chance of the entire unit being in sync. If such changes happen midway through a cycle, then an entire squad already ingrained with a specific approach will have to adapt to a new system altogether. Even though that argument does not come into fact here since Gambhir was a mentor rather than a head coach, the fact still remains.
#2 The core of Shreyas Iyer and Chandrakant Pandit is still intact
The bond between captain and coach is perhaps the most important in a team and is absolutely essential for a well-functioning unit. It is a well-documented fact that Gambhir did more than just 'mentor' the team even though his title suggested that, but 'head coach' Chandrakant Pandit also had a firm say in the proceedings.
Working closely for the past few seasons, Shreyas Iyer and Chandrakant Pandit have forged a chemistry. Chandrakant Pandit's old-school methodology and lack of experience in the shortest format of the highest level were an issue when he first came on as head coach. Gambhir proved to be the perfect bridge for Iyer and Pandit to connect, and their relationship is now the backbone of the team in the upcoming testing period.
Gambhir has provided the blueprint as well, which has been adopted quite well by Iyer. Playing without fear and other attributes brought on by the former player is not something that you just forget, especially when it is the DNA of the franchise.
The former player has left such a lasting mark and laid out such a platform that the side are bound to play similarly irrespective of whether he is there or not.
Moreover, Senior players like Sunil Narine and Andre Russell are also likely to be retained and maintain the core of the franchise during the transition period.
#3 They are already linked with more-than-capable replacements
Although Gambhir's successor won't bring the history and the bond with the franchise as he did, that is not a downer by any means. There are still capable names in the market, capable of taking over the role at KKR.
Rahul Dravid is one of the early and most obvious candidates linked to the role. He recently guided India to the 2024 T20 World Cup, and his laurels need no explanation. The former player's grasp on the shortest format has only increased with time, and he played a huge role in India making the switch to an aggressive brand of cricket.
Another name linked to the job is none other than former KKR all-rounder Jacques Kallis. In history and link with the franchise is something that the KKR management prefers in their new appointment then Kallis is not far from Gambhir in that aspect.
Kallis was part of the 2012 and 2014 IPL triumphs under Gautam Gambhir. He has even been part of the KKR backroom staff in the past, serving as both head coach and batting coach. He was head coach for four years from 2015 to 2019 and went on to join the South Africa team.