After Gautam Gambhir, KKR may appoint this cricketing great as new mentor

Search on for KKR's mentor (File)

Gautam Gambhir's appointment as India's new head coach marks his departure from Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), where he led the team to three IPL titles. Reports indicate KKR is searching for Gambhir's successor, with Jacques Kallis emerging as a frontrunner. Kallis, a former KKR coach and South African great, may fill the mentorship role vacated by Gambhir.

"The franchise is also on the lookout for a replacement for Gambhir, who was key to its third IPL crown this year. The name of legendary South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis, who had coached KKR in 2019, is also doing the rounds," stated a report.

Kallis, integral to KKR's IPL victories in 2012 and 2014 under Gambhir's captaincy, transitioned to coaching after retiring in 2014. He served as KKR's batting consultant from 2015 and later became head coach until 2019, followed by a stint with the South African team as a batting consultant.

As per reports, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) initially approached Rahul Dravid to replace Gautam Gambhir but are now considering Jacques Kallis for the mentor role.

KKR's reshuffle extends beyond Gambhir; reports suggest their batting consultant, Abhishek Nayar, may join Gambhir's support staff with Team India as an assistant coach.

Gambhir, now India's youngest-ever coach at 42, will commence his tenure with the Sri Lanka tour, succeeding Rahul Dravid after India's victorious T20 World Cup campaign.

Gambhir eyes Morkel; BCCI to decide on bowling coach soon

Gautam Gambhir, India's new head coach, is pushing for Morne Morkel, former South African cricketer and experienced coach, to join as bowling coach. Morkel's coaching stint with Pakistan and IPL credentials make him a strong contender. Gambhir values their past collaboration at Lucknow Super Giants and sees Morkel's recent experience and technical knowledge as advantageous.

Other candidates like Lakshmipathy Balaji, Vinay Kumar, and Zaheer Khan are also under consideration. The BCCI aims to finalize the appointment soon, considering Morkel's family commitments and extensive travel. If selected, Morkel would succeed Paras Mhambrey, who served under Rahul Dravid's coaching tenure.