A straight swap between Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid is possible, with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) reportedly eyeing the T20 World Cup-winning India coach as their new mentor.
With Gambhir set to become Team India’s new head coach, KKR has approached Rahul Dravid to replace him as the franchise’s mentor in the IPL. KKR had appointed Gambhir as their mentor before the 2024 season, with co-owner Shah Rukh Khan giving him a 10-year plan. However, Gambhir’s impending role with the Indian team has left a significant void at KKR, especially after guiding the team to the IPL 2024 title. The franchise has reportedly placed Dravid at the top of their shortlist to fill the role Gambhir will vacate.
According to News 18 Bangla, several IPL franchises are eager to hire Dravid as a coach or mentor for the 2025 season, with KKR being one of the contenders, although no concrete discussions have taken place yet. After India won the T20 World Cup 2024, Dravid joked about being ‘jobless’ and asked reporters for offers, highlighting his openness to new opportunities.
Dravid, who opted not to continue as the Indian team’s head coach to avoid extensive travel and time away from family, might find the shorter commitment of the IPL appealing. He has previously served as a mentor and coach in the IPL, including a stint with Delhi Daredevils, before leaving in 2017 due to a conflict of interest. Since then, Dravid has coached India’s junior teams and most recently led the National Cricket Academy before becoming India’s head coach in 2021.
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