Nitish Rana, a senior Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) batter, has remarked that Gautam Gambhir’s return to the organization as a mentor was “nothing short of a dream” for him. Gautam Gambhir guided KKR to IPL victories in both 2012 and 2014. Meanwhile, Rana was the team’s stand-in captain in IPL 2023, and despite KKR finishing eighth, he pleased many.
Nitish Rana and Gautam Gambhir are both Delhi natives who have played extensively for the state. Both received instruction from Sanjay Bharadwaj and share certain approaches. Rana regards the former India opener as his “go-to” person, who never hesitates to give him sound career advise, no matter how severe it may be.
“As a kid watching cricket, I never imagined I’d one day share the field and wear the same colors as my idol, @GautamGambhir bhai. Now, having him as our mentor at @KKRiders isnothing short of a dream. His leadership led to glory, and I can’t wait to learn and grow under his guidance. Here’s to the beginning of an incredible journey! ❤️????,” Rana wrote on X.
Nitish Rana
Interestingly, when Gautam Gambhir tweeted a selfie with KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan in September of this year, Nitish Rana was among the first to interpret it as a hint of a possible “homecoming.”
“Our Captain coming back home in a different avatar” – ShahRukh on Gautam Gambhir’s return
KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan stated in an official statement following the news that Gautam Gambhir was always a member of the Knight Riders family and is now just coming home in a different form.
“Gautam has always been part of the family and this is our Captain coming back home in a different avatar as a “Mentor”. He was sorely missed and now we all look forward to Chandu Sir (Chandrakant Pandit) and Gautam in instilling the never-say-die spirit and sportsmanship they stand for, in creating magic with Team KKR.”
ShahRukh Khan
With Shreyas Iyer poised to return as captain, KKR will be led entirely by Indians in the 2019 season.