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

Image credit: BCCI/IPL

NEW DELHI: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) team owner and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan shared that he never truly felt Gautam Gambhir had left the franchise, even before his official return as mentor ahead 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-long wait. Under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, the team defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final 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 also 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 leadership experience, having captained Rajasthan Royals to the playoffs in 2018 and also leading the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant. His selection as KKR’s captain seemed imminent once he joined the squad, though names like Iyer, KKR’s most expensive buy at Rs 23.75 crore, and Rinku Singh were also in contention.
Rahane’s recent domestic performances further strengthen his credentials. He led Mumbai to victory in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, emerging as the tournament’s highest run-scorer with 469 runs in nine matches, including five half-centuries, and was named Player of the Tournament.