It just so happens that foreign cricket boards have been clamoring for the coaches and mentors of the Kolkata Knight Riders. Nonetheless, there are some facts that cannot be disputed.
After winning two IPL titles with KKR in 2012 and 2014, Trevor Bayliss was in the process of negotiating a contract extension when Andrew Strauss, the Director of Cricket for the England and Wales Cricket Board, approached him with an offer. The Australian first declined, but it’s said that Strauss approached Bayliss again with an offer she couldn’t turn down. “Bayliss accepted the offer because it was too good to refuse,” a person with knowledge of the events at the time stated.
The ECB named Matthew Mott, a former assistant coach of the Knight Riders, as coach of the white-ball team. At the next T20 World Cup, Mott will be a member of Jos Buttler’s squad as they defend their championship. The ECB then persuaded coach Brendon McCullum to join its red-ball squad as head coach in 2022 after the Knight Riders advanced to the IPL final in 2021.
The Gautam Gambhir narrative now begins. The former cricketer from India, who guided KKR to their third title victory this week, is seen as a strong candidate for the position that Rahul Dravid is anticipated to leave open at the conclusion of the World Cup next month.
“Desh ke liye karna hai” is the catchphrase used inside the coach selection circle. Gambhir and the BCCI both think that “we must do it for the country.” And this notion is presumably at the core of Jay Shah and Gambhir’s interaction.
It is evident that Gambhir’s transition from the Lucknow Super Giants to the Kolkata Knight Riders was not as simple as his current one as coach of India. It is said that Gambhir is considering all of his alternatives. Gambhir has a lot of employment options because he is a great television expert who is also a good coach and mentor these days. His employment in India will not allow him to double dip, or take on many professional responsibilities, as he may do in
Furthermore, the position in India necessitates travel for nearly ten months, which is a big obstacle for someone with a young family. It is estimated that throughout his two months with the Knight Riders, Gambhir took five breaks. The Indian job, however, has a distinct profile, allure, and significance. The post might be personally fulfilling for someone who has a reputation for adopting a tough, confrontational attitude in his work life. In addition, he may always return to KKR when his work in India is finished, and they will be there to greet him with a red carpet.
Gambhir has expressed his consideration for the approach to those who are close to him. Shah Rukh Khan knows this as well. The deadline for applications was on Monday, so it’s possible that he submitted a formal application for the position, even if no one has confirmed this as of yet.
According to reports on Sunday, an extremely well-known IPL franchise owner who has a good relationship with the BCCI’s top brass told Cricbuzz that Gambhir’s appointment is confirmed, and an announcement is expected shortly. There are attempts on to bring in Gambhir, according to a well-known pundit who is well-informed about the goings-on in the BCCI. Since there hasn’t been an announcement yet, it’s likely that talks are going on on other fronts, maybe including more parties in addition to the two parties.
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