Gautam Gambhir's rule for KKR in IPL 2024: No senior-junior, no domestic-international, everyone in group equal

Add as a preferred source on Google

Gautam Gambhir in his first speech as the mentor of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) made it clear that senior and international players would not get a special treatment at the franchise in IPL 2024.

Gambhir, who has been roped in as the mentor of KKR for IPL 2024 season, said all the players will be treated equally, adding that players would get freedom to express themselves under his watch.

"We start this season from today. Whether it's physically, mentally skill wise, give everything possible. It's a very, very proud and successful franchise, Gambhir said while addressing the KKR players at their first training session at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

"You guys are representing a very successful franchise. Make sure you train that way, you play that way and you carry that attitude around the field. That is going to be very, very important. And one thing I absolutely believe in is giving all the freedom to the players. That is something which is very, very important.

"So people who played with me will know one thing about me, that everyone in this group will be treated equally. There's no senior junior. There is no domestic, international. So we have got one mission and that is to win this IPL," Gambhir, who led KKR to title wins in 2012 and 2014, added.

We should be there in IPL 2024 final: Gambhir to KKR players

Further, the former India opener made the goal clear to the KKR players by saying that they should be there in the final, giving everything on the park. He also committed to being available for the players for the entirety of the campaign.

"So everyone needs to follow that one simple path. On 26th May, we should be there giving everything possible, and it starts from today. It's not gonna start on the 26th. It's not gonna start on the 23rd.

"It starts from today and this is what we want to do. So if we walk the same path and we fight, I'm sure we're gonna achieve a lot of success. So good luck, guys. Have the freedom. Enjoy yourself. You can ask questions, whether close doors, or in front of everyone. And I can assure you, from a support staff point of view, that we're gonna be absolutely honest to every one of you. So, good luck," Gambhir concluded.

KKR will kick off their IPL 2024 campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Saturday, March 22. Shreyas Iyer will be leading the team which also consists of the likes of Nitish Rana, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine and Mitchell Starc, the most expensive player in the history of IPL.