Gautam Gambhir is now the cynosure of Kolkata Knight Riders after the IPL 2024 win. There is every reason for him to get all the adulation. He transformed a team that had been waiting for an IPL title for a decade into a champion side. Since joining KKR as a mentor. Gambhir had one mission. That mission – to take KKR to third IPL win – is successful. The joy of the entire KKR team knew no bounds after the IPL 2024 triumph on Sunday. Even KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan, who has been a constant presence in his team’s IPL 2024 matches, was happy. 

Shah Rukh even said in his dressing room speech that he now intends to se Gautam Gambhir on the dance floor, an offer which was declined by the latter. Gambhir, in a recent interview was asked, after his dance prospect after KKR win. His reply was intersting. 

“Aap galat aadmi se pooch rahe hai. Na mein dance kar sakta hu, na mein ga sakta hu. Lekin ha doosro ko dance karte hue dekh zaroos sakta hu and usko enjoy kar sakta hu. Wo maine zaroos kia. Shah Rukh bhai apne zindagi mein bahut successful rahe hai, aur bahut successful rahenge bhi. Lekin ek jagah jaha pe woh unsuccessful hai ki woh mujhe dance nahi kara paye. Mujhe lagta hai aage aane wale time mein bhi successful hone. Pas iss jagah pe woh successful nahi ho paenge kiuki main dance aur gaana ga hi nahi sakta (You are asking this to the wrong person. Neither can I dance, nor can I sing. Yes, I love to watch others dance and enjoy. Shah Rukh bhai has been very successful in his life and he will continue to be successful. But I think he won’t be successful in this aspect as I can’t dance or sing),” Gautam Gambhir said on Sportskeeda.

Several reports have claimed that Gambhir is one of the front-runner for the post but in a recent interview, after he mentored KKR to IPL 2024 title, he indicated something unique. He was asked about KKR now being a ‘trophy-winning dressing room’. 

“Today you are saying this because we have won our third trophy. But if you ask me, we are still two trophies away from MI and CSK. Today I am content, but again that hunger (is there) that you are still not the most successful team in the IPL, for that to happen you need to win the IPL three more times,  which will require a lot of hard work. So I think, the next mission is that, if we can make KKR the most successful team in the IPL. There won’t be any bigger feeling for me. But the journey abhi shuru hui hai (the journey has just started),” Gautam Gambhir said on Sportskeeda.

The official deadline for application submission for the post of Indian cricket team coach selection is over. Monday was the last date to submit the google sheets to be the next India coach.

Nitish Rana paid tribute to Gautam Gambhir on Instagram after Kolkata Knight Riders broke a ten-year drought to win their third IPL title in 2024. Gambhir returned to the KKR dugout ahead of the season, taking on the role of a mentor, after two years with the Lucknow Super Giants. His influence has clearly been enormous, with Rana hailing him. After two titles as KKR captain in 2012 and 2014, this is Gambhir’s first as a mentor of the franchise.

“In this era of Mamba Mentality, we’re soon all going to embrace the GG Mentality too,” captioned Rana on Instagram.

Rana also shared a screenshot of a conversation with Gambhir dating back to November 22, 2023, where Gambhir had spoken about “creating something special” in the season to come.

Rana has not been the only one to credit KKR’s success to Gambhir. Earlier in the season, Sunil Narine had also spoken about how Gambhir had been instrumental in convincing him to open the batting again.

Even owner Shah Rukh Khan offered a special thanks to Gambhir during KKR’s post-IPL 2024 Final celebrations, in a video on the team’s official YouTube Channel.

“My special thanks to GG (Gautam Gambhir),” Shah Rukh said. “I just have one request… we have to make GG dance tonight,” he joked.

Kolkata Knight Riders were dominant during IPL 2024, finishing with the highest Net Run Rate (+1.428) in IPL history. They bowled out the Sunrisers Hyderabad for a paltry 113 in the final on Sunday night, before cruising to victory with nearly half the innings to spare.

KKR’s resurgence upon Gambhir’s arrival has led to rumours circulating on social media tipping him as the favourite to succeed Rahul Dravid as India’s next men’s head coach. BCCI are yet to disclose their final shortlist of candidates.

Gautam Gambhir seems to have the Midas Touch in the IPL. After guiding Lucknow Super Giants to two successive IPL playoffs, this time he went a step ahead as Kolkata Knight Riders’ mentor. Under his guidance, the Shreyas Iyer-led side played with confidence and class throughout to clinch the title. Gautam Gambhir’s name is being discussed as Indian cricket team head coach role as well. Though nothing is official, several reports have predicted Gambhir to take over the top post after Rahul Dravid‘s tenure ends with the 2024 T20 World Cup. 

Shah Rukh Khan, KKR co-owner, revealed in a long post how the Gautam Gambhir’s philosophy changed the outlook of KKR.

“To my boys…. my team…. my champs….”these blessed candles of the night” …. My Stars…of KKR. I cannot do a lot of things and you cannot do them all either…but together we manage most of them. That’s what  @KKRiders stood for. Simply being together. Beyond the ability and guidance of @GautamGambhir….the earnestness of Chandu, the love of  @abhisheknayar1 & leadership of @ShreyasIyer15… the dedication of  @rtendo27, Bharat Arun @1crowey & @Numb3z… this team is built on no hierarchy just pure respect for collaboration,” Shah Rukh posted in a long post on X.

“GG said if u can’t support a single vision as a team….u are leading to a division in the team. Each player understood that. Young and old. The Trophy is not a testament of having the best players in the team….but a proof of each player being the best for the team. Boys you are all made of Star stuff!! Love you all and don’t let the dancing stop! Also, so happy and thankful for each and every KKR fan and I hope all around the world youngsters learn that Tough times don’t last….Finally Tough and Happy teams do! Korbo…Lorbo…Jeetbo….Always. See u all at the stadia in 2025.” 

To my boys…. my team…. my champs….”these blessed candles of the night” …. My Stars…of KKR.

I cannot do a lot of things and you cannot do them all either…but together we manage most of them. That’s what @KKRiders stood for. Simply being together. Beyond the ability and… pic.twitter.com/h6G6KwNc0C

— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) May 29, 2024

Bollywood superstar and Kolkata Knight Riders owner Shah Rukh Khan delivered an emotional dressing room speech following his side’s victory in the IPL 2024 final. KKR produced a sensational performance in the final to defeat Sunrisers Hyderabad and clinch their third IPL trophy. SRK was hospitalised recently after suffering a heat stroke but he was back in the ground to attend the summit clash and cheer for his side alongside his family. In a video posted by KKR on their social media handle, SRK was seen talking to the KKR players and staff as he thanked them and expressed a special wish for the IPL auction.

#KnightsTV | A night full of awards

CEO Venky Mysore celebrates our champion performers from the #TATAIPL2024Finalpic.twitter.com/uCXCz9jKUZ

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) May 27, 2024

“I just have one request, which is my special thanks to Gautam Gambhir. I have not thanked him specially. Two things we had discussed when we started that maybe we can make him dance. Sunil (Narine) has already crossed that boundary. I saw him dance. So we have to make GG [Gautam Gambhir] dance tonight,” Shah Rukh Khan said in the viral video.

“Thank you, everybody. You guys are lovely. God bless you. Just stay healthy. And, wherever we go ahead from here onwards, I wish you the best. And, I know, I speak on behalf of Jay, Juhi, Jahnavi, Suhana, Pooja, all of us, who love you very much that you make us very emotional. And, we wish we had this team for the rest of our lives. And you kept on listening to my speeches and playing like this.” 

Coming to the match, SRH batters failed to perform as they were bundled out for just 113. Andre Russell took three wickets while Mitchell Starc and Harshit Rana took two wickets each. In reply, Venkatesh Iyer and Rahmanullah Gurbaz guided the team to an easy win.

A ray of jubilation spread all across the Kolkata Knight Riders camp as they lifted the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 title, beating Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by 8 wickets. KKR remained utterly dominant the entire campaign, barely getting outplayed by the opponents even when they lost a handful of matches. As KKR thumped SRH in the final at Chepauk on Sunday, the franchise’s co-owner Shah Rukh Khan, his daughter Suhana, and the rest of the family celebrated the triumph in extravagant fashion.

In a video that has surfaced on social media, Suhana could be seen saying ‘I am so happy’ as she hugs dad SRK following the team’s success on the field. Here are the videos:

This is the sweetest video you’ll see on the internet today: Suhana Khan asking Shah Rukh Khan, ‘Are you happy, Dad?’ followed by a heartfelt group hug with all three children #ShahRukhKhan #KKRvsSRH #IPL2024pic.twitter.com/TKywAcMTbJ

— Shah Rukh Khan Warriors FAN Club (@TeamSRKWarriors) May 26, 2024

Suhana’s tears are not only in the joy of #KKR‘s victory, but also in the love she feels for her father @iamsrk , we know from everything ShahRukh has been through during the last few years and every victory conquered is a reason for joy, he deserves each one of them, I love you pic.twitter.com/xIOkjZmywG

— SRKajol (@SRKajolBrasil) May 26, 2024

After the match, KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer said that his team played like ‘invincibles’ the entire campaign, and deserved to win the title for the third time.

“We played like invincibles throughout the season. There’s so much to cherish right now. It is pleasing, the performance has been flawless throughout. I am running out of words right now. We have been tremendous from game one, we stepped up today. All we demanded from ourselves was to back each other whatever the situation is. The game could have either way. They have been playing phenomenal cricket – SRH – throughout the season. We were lucky to bowl first and every situation went in our favour,” he said in the post-match presentation before collecting the trophy.

Shah Rukh has been described as a wonderful owner, with Gautam Gambhir suggested that he hasn’t worked with a boss like him in the entire IPL.

Is Gautam Gambhir the next Indian cricket team head coach? That seems to be the strongest rumour that is doing the rounds since the IPL 2024 ended. Under Gambhir’s mentorship, Kolkata Knight Riders won the title in style. Before 2024, Gambhir was the mentor of the Lucknow Super Giants. The KL Rahul-led side entered the IPL play-offs for two consecutive seasons under Gambhir. Now, it seems that Gambhir’s name is being thought about as the next Indian cricket team coach. 

The official deadline for application submission for the post of Indian cricket team coach selection is over. Monday was the last date to submit the google sheets to be the next India coach.

A report in Cricbuzz gave details of what might be happening in the background. It claimed that a “very high-profile owner of an IPL franchise, who is very close to the BCCI top brass” told the publication that former India star’s appointment as Indian cricket team coach is a “done deal and the announcement will come soon”. It also said that a “high profile commentator” told them that serious efforts are being made to rope in the KKR mentor. 

However, the report also added that since there has been no official announcement, it points to the fact that negotiations are still on multiple fronts — “between the two parties and, perhaps, with some others too.”

BCCI secretary Jay Shah last week rejected claims that the Board has approached any former Australian cricketer to be India’s next head coach and hinted that Rahul Dravid‘s successor could be an Indian by saying that he should have a “deep understanding” of the game’s structure in the country. 

“Neither I nor the BCCI have approached any former Australian cricketer with a coaching offer. The reports circulating in certain media sections are completely incorrect,” Shah said in a statement.

“Finding the right coach for our national team is a meticulous and thorough process. We are focused on identifying individuals who possess a deep understanding of the Indian cricket structure and have risen through the ranks,” Shah said.

With PTI inputs

SunRisers Hyderabad, who has notched some very great high-total batting records in the IPL 2024, could not replicate the same against Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2024 Qualifier 1 in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. The Pat Cummins-led side could just score 159 batting first. The target was chased down by KKR in less than 14 overs. SRH will now face the winner of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Rajasthan Royals Eliminator for a place in the IPL 2024 final.

SRH star Rahul Tripathi, top-scored for his team with a gritty 55. After he got out, his distraught image went viral on social media, with one account calling it the ‘most heart-breaking photo of the day’. Later, KKR owner Shah Rukh Khan met Tripathi, a former player of the franchise, and hugged him. 

Well Played Champ Rahul Tripathi.

Not only survived the fiery spell of Starc but also took us back into the game from nowhere. pic.twitter.com/VDzdEBvTVv

— Rampy (@RiserTweex) May 21, 2024

The way he gives love and cares about everyone @iamsrk. pic.twitter.com/nadQbcP876

— Semsem (@asmasun01) May 21, 2024

The match also saw KKR’s Mitchell Starc come up with tremendous figures. The Rs 24.75 crore buy returned with three wickets and effectively broke SRH’s resistance right at the start. 

Former Australia cricketer Shane Watson showered praise on Starc. Speaking on JioCinema, Watson said:

“He was brilliant from ball one. It’s obvious with Mitchell Starc that if he gets the first few balls right on the money, the length, the line, and the swing, then you know he’s on top of his game. Throughout this TATA IPL, he’s been hit-or-miss, maybe more miss than hit. But tonight, he was at his very best. You would think the ten days from the previous game to this one gave him time to physically and mentally freshen up, and he hit the ground running. He got Travis Head out in the second ball and things went extremely well from there for Mitchell Starc and KKR,” Watson said.