The story of Gautam Gambhir and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has always been inspiring. Under his guidance, KKR always showed excellent performance. After failing to make the playoffs in their first three seasons, KKR won the title in 2012 and 2014, following Gambhir’s arrival in 2011.

Gambhir became the face of KKR. While he did have a brief stint with Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals), he will forever be remembered for his contributions to KKR and how he helped the franchise establish itself. Last year, Gambhir returned to KKR as a mentor, and his presence immediately paid off with the team winning the title.

Historically, KKR has struggled in his absence. Apart from being runner-up in 2021, the team has faced difficulties in finding a leader capable of guiding them out of tough situations.

For the 2025 season, KKR won’t have Gambhir, which is undoubtedly a setback. However, this presents an opportunity for the Knight Riders to establish a new identity, proving they are not solely reliant on one individual. While the task is undoubtedly challenging, KKR will hope they can rise to the occasion.

After Gambhir’s departure as mentor, KKR brought in Dwayne Bravo to take on the same role. While Bravo is widely known in India for his association with Chennai Super Kings (CSK), he has also been a part of the Knight Riders family internationally. So, joining KKR is not unfamiliar territory for the former West Indies all-rounder.

Bravo, as captain of Trinbago Knight Riders, led the team to victory in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). He also said goodbye to his playing career after featuring in four matches for the Knight Riders in the CPL. This highlights the strong rapport he shares with KKR owner Shah Rukh Khan and CEO Venky Mysore.

While captaining a CPL team comes with its challenges, leading an IPL team carries the eight of pressure. A poor season can lead to intense backlash and scrutiny from fans. This is where Gambhir was KKR’s trusted leader.

Bravo has the experience, but can he fill the big shoes left by Gambhir? Can he lead KKR to become only the third team after CSK and MI to successfully defend their title? Only time will tell.