Former Indian legend and two-time IPL champion Gautam Gambhir has returned to his old haunts. The 42-year-old is back as the Kolkata Knight Riders head coach. Former Australian player and Sunrisers Hyderabad coach Tom Moody lauded Gautam Gambhir for the retention of two KKR star players. Kolkata Knight Riders released 12 players, including some experienced names.
The former IPL champions have INR 32.70 crores in the bank ahead of the December IPL 2024 Auctions. Gautam Gambhir will play a significant role in shaping the team as it prepares to go for a third title next year. Former Australian player Tom Moody lauded Gautam Gambhir for keeping Sunil Narine and Andre Russell. According to reports, there were indications that the Jamaican all-rounder would be released.
The two KKR star players:
In previous seasons, Andre Russell and Sunil Narine had underperformed for the Kolkata Knight Riders. Both players rose to prominence at the Eden Gardens stadium under Gautam Gambhir.
In an interview with ESPN CRICINFO, Tom Moody stated, “They both have been phenomenal cricketers for KKR and are a part of theirs. Gambhir, in my opinion, has been crucial in keeping Russell and Narine. Gambhir understands them because he has played with them, captained them, and knows how to get the most out of them.”
Tom added, “I think we’ll see a different outcome in 2024 in terms of what Russell brings to the table. My only hesitation is not one of skill. It’s whether he can physically hold together because we’ve seen him break down on a couple of occasions in recent years, which has been quite alarming. His bowling has also been limited, and they haven’t had access to his full quota of overs.”
On Sunday, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Kumar Das, Lockie Ferguson, Umesh Yadav, and Tim Southee were all released. Shardul Thakur, who was traded prior to the IPL 2023 season, was also released as the Indian all-rounder to make room for new additions for the upcoming season.
So, this was all about the two KKR star players. Also read, Cricketer Ishan Kishan gives wrong answers to questions!
