India legend Gautam Gambhir has arrived in Kolkata ahead of the IPL 2024 that gets underway from March 22. Gambhir has returned to Kolkata Knight Riders in the role of team mentor as the franchise hopes to use his expertise to win the IPL title for the first time in a decade.
KKR won the IPL titles in 2012 and 2014, both under Gambhir’s captaincy. However, since last winning the title, they have made it to the title clash just once – in 2021 when they lost to Chennai Super Kings.
KKR shared a clip of a beaming Gambhir arriving at the Kolkata airport to link up with the team.
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“I know there will be expectations and I hope to live up to it and make the fans happy,” Gambhir said after landing in Kolkata.
Gambhir spent two seasons with Lucknow Super Giants in the capacity of their mentor as the team qualified for back-to-back playoffs.
Gambhir isn’t the only star attraction at KKR this season.
KKR splurged an jaw-dropping Rs 24.75 crore to buy Australia left-arm pacer Mitchel Starc and thus made his the most expensive buy in the history of IPL auctions.
“I don’t think the price tag will be an added pressure for Starc. I only hope he can do for KKR what he does for Australia in international cricket,” Gambhir said.
Earlier, Gambhir had claimed IPL is the toughest league in the world.
“I made it very clear on Day 1 that IPL for me, a serious cricket. It’s not about Bollywood, it’s not about you, it’s not about after party and stuff. It’s about going out there and playing competitive cricket and that’s the reason why I feel is the toughest league in the world because it is proper cricket,” Gambhir said on Star Sports.
“It is probably closest to international cricket as compared to any other league and if you want to be known as a successful franchise, you should be able to deliver on the cricket field,” he added.
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