Two years can transform fortunes in the Indian Premier League. In May 2024, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) celebrated their third IPL title at the Chepauk. Today, the franchise finds itself at the bottom of the points table, grappling with a sharp decline in performance.
The fall has drawn sharp commentary from former IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi. Responding to a social media query comparing Gautam Gambhir’s importance to KKR with MS Dhoni’s role at Chennai Super Kings, Modi urged the franchise to reinstate Gambhir as the team’s ‘Chief Strategist’. He emphasised that KKR must be prepared to offer Gambhir all possible incentives to bring him back.
Gambhir’s association with KKR yielded two titles in 2012 and 2014. He returned as mentor in 2024, a move that coincided with the team’s third championship under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy. However, Gambhir left to coach the senior national men’s team after Rahul Dravid’s tenure ended, leaving a void in KKR’s strategic leadership.
“That @GautamGambhir – without an iota of doubt in my mind – was the best person for @KKRiders. The team management needs to do whatever, and I say it again, whatever it takes to lure him back. Incentivise him, like Shane Warne had equity options,” Modi wrote on social media. He added, “Lock him in for a long, long term – give him stock options. I hope they are smart enough to do that. He does not fall within the player auction purse – get him to be the face of the team. There needs to be a player face of the team. Gautam should be KKR’s main strategist globally. No one better.”
The decline since that 2024 triumph has been both swift and painful. Following Gambhir’s departure, KKR’s identity has blurred. The 2025 season was a disaster, with the team finishing 8th and failing to make the playoffs.
The management’s attempt to fix the rot by promoting Abhishek Nayar to Head Coach for the 2026 season, replacing Chandrakant Pandit, has so far failed to yield results. While Nayar is credited with unearthing talents like Rinku Singh, the transition from assistant coach to chief strategist has proven difficult. Under his tenure, KKR has struggled to find a winning combination, looking tactically outclassed in high-pressure situations.
The 2026 campaign has been further marred by a leadership crisis. Ajinkya Rahane, who took over the captaincy after Shreyas Iyer was not retained, is facing intense scrutiny. Criticism reached a fever pitch last week when Rahane opted to bat first in overcast, rain-threatened conditions at Eden Gardens, a move slammed by former cricketers like Anil Kumble and Ravichandran Ashwin. KKR was reeling at 25/2 before rain abandoned the match, a result many saw as a lucky escape for the struggling skipper.
Injuries have only added to the misery. The bowling attack has been gutted, with key Indian pacers Harshit Rana and Akash Deep ruled out for the season. Meanwhile, high-priced overseas signing Cameron Green has struggled for form, leaving the middle order brittle and over-reliant on Rinku Singh.
Modi’s suggestion of bringing back Gambhir as the face of the Knight Riders resonates with a fanbase. Gambhir’s tenure was defined by a win-at-all-costs grit that appears missing in the current setup.
With KKR currently languishing with zero wins in their first four games of 2026, the reaction from fans tells the story. Shockingly, even KKR’s home games have seen a lukewarm response.
KKR now have a four-day break to reset and rethink their strategy before travelling to Chennai for their next game against the Super Kings on Tuesday, April 14.
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