"Excited About IPL?" Fan Asks Shah Rukh Khan. Superstar Replies "Our Champ..."

The Indian Premier League (IPL) Auction 2024 is fast approaching. According to reports, over 1100 players have registered for it. Ahead the IPL, the 10 franchises released their retention list. The major news of the IPL retentions and trade-offs was that of Hardik Pandya moving back to Mumbai Indians from Gujarat Titans. However, one 'transfer' that made big noise was that of Gautam Gambhir moving back to Kolkata Knight Riders, this time as a 'mentor'. He was associated with Lucknow Super Giants over the past couple of years. 

Gambhir served as Lucknow Super Giants' (LSG) mentor for two years during which the franchise finished third in both seasons. After making their place in the playoff, they got eliminated by Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians in the 2022 and 2023 seasons respectively.

Gambhir has now returned to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), a team that he guided to IPL glory in 2012. Earlier, Gambhir was associated with the Kolkata-based franchise from 2011 to 2017, which is considered the golden period of KKR. During this period, the team won the Indian Premier League (IPL) twice, qualified for the playoffs five times, and reached the finals of the Champions League T20 in 2014.

Ahead of the IPL, Kolkata Knight Toders co-owner Shah Rukh Kha was asked by a fan: "Excited for IPL?"

He replied: "Absolutely with our champ who is back where he belongs..."

Absolutely with our champ who is back where he belongs... https://t.co/pYRNMVofBl

— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) December 2, 2023

 Speaking to ANI, Gambhir hoped that he could deliver for the franchise in the upcoming season of the IPL. The 42-year-old said he wants to repay all the love he received from the people of Bengal during his earlier tenure with the two-time IPL champions.

"Going back to where there was a lot of emotions, sweat, hard work, all those memories coming back. It's a new start and hopefully, we can deliver. KKR is very close to my heart because of the amount of love we have got from the people of Bengal, it is time to repay it," Gambhir told ANI.

Topics mentioned in this article

Gautam Gambhir Kolkata Knight Riders Lucknow Super Giants IPL 2024 Shah Rukh Khan Cricket