Kolkata Knight Riders Announce Gautam Gambhir's Replacement, Rival IPL Fans Stunned

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) announced the appointment of Dwayne Bravo as the new mentor for the franchise, ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. Bravo, a legend of the T20 format, announced his decision to retire from all forms of cricket after a bitter conclusion to his Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2024 season, due to an injury. Just hours after making retirement from the sport as a player public, Bravo signed for KKR as their new mentor, replacing Gautam Gambhir.

"DJ Bravo joining us is a very exciting development. His deep desire to win wherever he plays, his extensive experience and knowledge will benefit the franchise and all players immensely. We are also pleased that he will be involved with all our franchises around the world - CPL, MLC and ILT20," KKR CEO Venky Mysore said in a statement. 

Here's to creating more 'Champion' memories! @VenkyMysore | @DJBravo47 pic.twitter.com/KweWi895Ug

The fact that Bravo, who is a Chennai Super Kings legend, joined a rival IPL franchise as mentor, left many CSK fans stunned with the decision. 

CSK Fans Not forgive KKR management chhodenge nhi

Bravo also expressed his enthusiasm as he marked the beginning of a new chapter in his career. He said: "I've been part of the Trinbago Knight Riders for the last 10 years in the CPL. Having played for and against the Knight Riders in various leagues, I have a lot of respect for how they operate.

"The owners' passion, the professionalism of the management, and the family-like environment make it a special place. This is the perfect platform for me as I transition from playing to mentoring and coaching the next generation of players."

The West Indies great had earlier retired from international cricket in 2021 and