Shah Rukh Khan on Gautam Gambhir’s KKR return: ‘Never thought he left us’ | Cricket News – The Times of India

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NEW DELHI: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) crew proprietor and Bollywood famous person Shah Rukh Khan shared that he by no means really felt Gautam Gambhir had left the franchise, even earlier than his official return as mentor forward of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season.
Gambhir’s comeback proved instrumental for KKR, guiding them to their third IPL title after a decade-lengthy wait. Under the management of Shreyas Iyer, the crew defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad within the closing to clinch the championship.

“I never thought Gautam Gambhir left us. There has always been a lovely relationship with Gautam over the years. There are a few players with whom friendships remain strong, and Gautam Gambhir is one of them. For him, it was a big homecoming,” Shah Rukh said on JioHotstar’s ‘Power Play’.

However, Gambhir’s association with KKR lasted only for the 2024 season, as he took over as India’s head coach in July following Rahul Dravid’s tenure.
Former KKR batter Robin Uthappa reflected on Gambhir’s exit from the franchise in 2017, stating that it left a noticeable void in the team’s structure and 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!”
Former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja additionally weighed in on the transformation KKR underwent in 2011, when Gambhir took over as captain.

“The relationship between KKR and Sourav Ganguly, whether with the fans or within the team, wasn’t yielding great results. So, in 2011, a major overhaul was planned. I think the biggest shift that year was that, before 2011, KKR was seen as Sourav Ganguly’s team. But from that point, it became Shah Rukh Khan’s team—with Gautam Gambhir leading them.”
As KKR prepares for the 2025 IPL season, the franchise has named veteran Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane as their new captain, with all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer appointed as vice-captain.
Rahane brings prior IPL management expertise, having captained Rajasthan Royals to the playoffs in 2018 and likewise main the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant. His choice as KKR’s captain appeared imminent as soon as he joined the squad, although names like Iyer, KKR’s costliest purchase at Rs 23.75 crore, and Rinku Singh had been additionally in competition.
Rahane’s latest home performances additional strengthen his credentials. He led Mumbai to victory within the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, rising because the event’s highest run-scorer with 469 runs in 9 matches, together with 5 half-centuries, and was named Player of the Tournament.