October 7, 2024

IPL 2025: Former Sri Lankan Player Poised to Succeed Gautam Gambhir as Kolkata Knight Riders’ Mentor

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the 2024 IPL champions, are searching for a new team mentor after Gautam Gambhir stepped down to become head coach of the Indian cricket team. With Rahul Dravid returning to Rajasthan Royals as their head coach, KKR is in discussions with former Sri Lankan player Kumar Sangakkara to fill the mentor role for the upcoming season.

In addition to Gambhir, KKR has also lost Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate, who have joined the Indian team’s support staff. The team has already appointed Chandrakant Pandit as head coach and Bharat Arun as bowling coach for the next season.

Since 2021, Kumar Sangakkara has been the Director of Cricket at Rajasthan Royals, where his contributions have significantly benefited the franchise. However, the legendary player is now in talks with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), and a decision on his potential appointment is expected as early as next week.

In terms of his playing career, Sangakkara participated in 71 IPL matches, scoring 1,687 runs with 10 fifties at a strike rate of 121.19. Internationally, the 46-year-old Sri Lankan played 134 Test matches, amassing 12,400 runs, and 404 ODIs, where he scored 14,234 runs. He also featured in 56 T20Is, collecting 1,382 runs, including 8 fifties.

Read More: Ricky Ponting Hopes For Smooth Stint With PBKS In The IPL

Why Virender Sehwag Prefers IPL Coaching Over Leading Team India? Check Reason Here

Cricket legend Virender Sehwag prefers coaching in the IPL over coaching the Indian national team due to the intense schedule of international cricket. After retiring from international cricket in 2015, Sehwag took on roles in coaching and commentary. He joined Punjab Kings (PBKS) as a mentor in 2016 and later became the team’s Director of Cricket, a position he held until 2018.

In 2017, Sehwag applied for the role of India’s head coach but lost out to Ravi Shastri. Since then, he hasn’t pursued the position and has expressed his preference for the IPL, citing that the less demanding schedule is more suitable for him at this stage of his life.

“I might consider coaching an IPL team, but not the Indian team,” Sehwag stated. “Becoming the coach of the Indian team would mean going back to the same routine I had during my playing days, where I was away from home for around eight months a year. Right now, my children are 14 and 16, and they need my presence. Both are involved in cricket; one is an off-spinner, and the other is an opening batsman. I want to be there to guide and spend time with them.”

Read More: IPL 2025: Rahul Dravid Appointed Head Coach of Rajasthan Royals Following T20 World Cup Victory

Sehwag emphasized the challenge of balancing the rigorous demands of coaching the national team with his family commitments. He noted, “If I became the coach of the Indian team, it would be a significant challenge for me to be away from my kids for such long periods. However, if an opportunity to coach or mentor an IPL team comes up, I would definitely consider it.”

Since Sehwag’s tenure with Punjab Kings (PBKS) ended in 2018, he has stayed away from coaching roles. During his time with PBKS, the team struggled to perform and did not reach the playoffs. PBKS, in fact, has not made it to the IPL playoffs since 2014 and has only advanced past the league stage twice in the tournament’s 17-year history. Despite these challenges, the possibility of Sehwag returning to an IPL coaching role continues to be a point of interest for fans and franchises alike.

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