Rahul Dravid to replace Gautam Gambhir as KKR mentor? Reports say so…
PTC Web Desk: With Gautam Gambhir’s appointment as Team India’s new head coach nearly confirmed, reports suggest that Rahul Dravid has been approached to take over as the mentor for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Gautam Gambhir was initially brought on as KKR’s mentor before the 2024 season, with co-owner Shah Rukh Khan reportedly offering him a 10-year plan. However, the offer from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) proved irresistible for Gambhir.
Gautam Gambhir’s shift to the Indian national team leaves a significant vacancy at KKR, especially after the franchise’s success in winning the IPL 2024 title under his guidance. To fill this gap, KKR’s management has reportedly prioritised Rahul Dravid as a potential replacement.
According to reports, several IPL franchises are interested in hiring Rahul Dravid as a coach or mentor for the 2025 season. Although the Knight Riders are keen on him, no formal discussions have occurred yet.
After India won the T20 World Cup 2024 by defeating South Africa in the final, Rahul Dravid humorously mentioned being ‘jobless’ soon and asked reporters if they had any job offers. Given Dravid’s immense talent and experience in Indian cricket, it is no surprise that franchises are eager to bring him on board.
Dravid has earlier expressed a preference not to continue as the Indian team’s head coach due to the extensive travel, which keeps him away from his family for about 10 months a year. The shorter IPL season, requiring only 2-3 months of commitment, might be more appealing to him.
The former India captain has a history of mentoring and coaching IPL teams, having worked with the Delhi Daredevils until 2017 when he stepped down due to a ‘conflict of interest.’ After his IPL stint, Dravid coached India’s junior teams, including the Under-19 and India A teams. He most recently served as the head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru before taking on the role of India’s head coach in 2021.