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The Gautam Gambhir effect: How one man rebuilt KKR’s legacy from the ground up

Akshita Patel

Gautam Gambhir's legacy with KKR [Source: @OneCricketApp/X.com]Gautam Gambhir's legacy with KKR [Source: @OneCricketApp/X.com]

Gautam Gambhir is the man, the myth and the legend for Kolkata Knight Riders fans simply for his contributions as captain, player, and then mentor in the last 18 years. On his 44th birthday, let’s revisit his journey as a KKR legend. 

Gambhir’s journey with the Kolkata Knight Riders began when he first took over as captain in 2011. The franchise was lost in identity.

The team boasted huge talent but needed direction and belief. Fans were confused after Sourav Ganguly’s departure, and KKR often found themselves underperforming. 

Gautam Gambhir led KKR to multiple titles as captain

Yet Gautam Gambhir's entry changed everything. He introduced a clear vision, audacious decision-making, and a winning attitude that turned KKR from a middle-of-the-pack side into IPL champions.

As a captain, Gambhir led from the front. He wasn’t afraid to promote young players, even if it meant stepping down the batting order himself. 

His selfless approach created a culture of trust and confidence within the squad. In 2012, KKR won their first IPL trophy, and Gambhir was the team's leading run-scorer at 590 runs in 17 games.

Fast forward to 2014, Gautam Gambhir began the season with 3 ducks. While he scored only 335 runs, his leadership guided KKR to the playoffs with a 7-match winning streak.

Gambhir’s aggressive and no-nonsense mindset guided KKR to their second IPL trophy by beating Punjab in the finals.

Gambhir returned to serve KKR as a mentor

After retiring, Gautam Gambhir continued to shape KKR as a mentor. His comeback in 2023 saw the side rise from 7th position to IPL champions once more in 2024.

One of Gambhir’s boldest decisions was backing Mitchell Starc. The pace bowler came with a hefty price of 24.75 crore and was early to catch flak but Gambhir's public belief turned Starc into a star when needed the most.

Starc’s 17 wickets, including match-winning performances in the final and Qualifier 1, justified the gamble completely. 

Crucially, Gautam Gambhir revitalised KKR’s pillars. Sunil Narine, who had struggled in recent seasons, was given the chance to open the innings again. The move paid off spectacularly, as Narine scored 488 runs, picked up 17 wickets, and clinched his third MVP award. 

Russell, too, rediscovered his all-round brilliance. Gambhir’s mentorship reminded the team of their identity: fearless, ambitious, and champions in spirit. 

When the final arrived in Chennai, KKR was a new team, not just walking boldly but riding high like real knights of the IPL.

Gautam Gambhir - a true Knight

At its core, Gautam Gambhir's legacy at KKR is more than statistics. He inherited an underperforming team, instilled faith, promoted confidence, and fostered youth to build a championship mentality.

His legacy made KKR re-establish themselves as one of the IPL's top franchises, showing that leadership off the field may be as influential as performances on it.