New Delhi, December 18, 2021: Former India opening batter and Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) captain Gautam Gambhir has been appointed team mentor of the new Lucknow Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise.
The decision follows the announcement of Andy Flower as the franchise’s new head coach as the team firms up its backroom-staff lineup ahead of the all-important IPL auction.
“Gambhir brings with him a proven track record in the IPL as captain for KKR. He also has a penchant for grooming young talent which Lucknow feels will suit them well ahead of what is expected to be a tough initiation into an increasingly competitive IPL scenario,” sources in the know told TOI.The feisty Gambhir is expected to have an advisory role in the franchise and will be the “guiding hand” when it comes to firming up the team’s plans and improving player performance. KKR had won two IPL titles under Gambhir’s captaincy in 2012 and 2014.
The as-yet unnamed Lucknow franchise, which is hoping to target KL Rahul in the upcoming IPL auction as a captaincy contender, now has two senior backroom staff members in Gambhir and Flower with a no-nonsense approach, immense tactical knowledge and an intense approach towards the game. Both were dogged batters in their time.The Lucknow IPL franchise was bagged by the Sanjiv Goenka-led RPSG group for Rs 7090 crore. The $7 billion conglomerate has had an earlier stint in the IPL as owners of the Rising Pune Supergiant franchise according to the reports published in timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
“Thanks a lot to Dr Goenka and the RPSG Group for presenting me with this wonderful opportunity. The fire to win a contest still burns bright inside me. The desire to leave a winners’ legacy still kicks me 24×7. I will not be contesting for a dressing room but for the spirit and soul of Uttar Pradesh,” Gambhir said on his appointment.
