IPL 2025: Dwayne Bravo joins Kolkata Knight Riders as mentor just after retirement
New Delhi: Former West Indies all-rounder Dwyane Bravo has joined hands with IPL 2024 champions Kolkata Knight Riders as a Mentor. The announcement was made through an official press release on Friday, September 27. The franchise has confirmed the development, stating that he will also be part of the group’s other franchises worldwide, including CPL, MLC, and ILT20.
The 40-year-old Bravo, who was Chennai Super Kings’ bowling coach in the 2024 IPL, will replace India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir as KKR’s mentor. Gambhir, who captained KKR to IPL titles in 2012 and 2014, joined the franchise as mentor last year and led them to a title win in his first season. After a successful stint, the former left-handed batter stepped down to take on the role of head coach for the Indian men’s cricket team.
Say hello to our new Mentor, DJ ‘sir champion’ Bravo!
Welcome to the City of Champions! pic.twitter.com/Kq03t4J4ia
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) September 27, 2024
“DJ Bravo joining us is an exciting development. His relentless drive to win, along with his vast experience and deep knowledge, will greatly benefit our franchise and players. We’re also pleased that Bravo will be involved with our other franchises globally, including CPL, MLC, and ILT20,” Knight Riders group CEO Venky Mysore said in a press release.
“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,” Bravo said after his appointment.
Besides playing for MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings, Dwayne Bravo has also played for Mumbai Indians from the year 2008 to 2010 and played for Gujarat Lions in the 2016 edition of IPL.
Dwayne Bravo holds the record for the most dismissals in T20 cricket, with 631 wickets in 582 matches, playing for over a dozen teams. As a key part of the West Indies men’s cricket team, he won the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in both 2012 and 2016 under the leadership of Daren Sammy.