Former West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo was appointed as the mentor of the defending Indian Premier League champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), on Friday. He takes over from the former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir. Gambhir stepped down from the role in July after being named the head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team.
Just hours after Dwayne Bravo announced his retirement from all forms of cricket through a social media post, KKR revealed his appointment as their new mentor.
”Today is the day I say goodbye to the game that has given me everything. From the age of five, I knew this was what I wanted to do–this was the sport I was destined to play. I had no interest in anything else, and I dedicated my entire life to you. In return, you gave me the life I dreamed of for myself and my family. For that, I can’t thank you enough,” Bravo said in an Instagram post.
Bravo still holds the record as the top wicket-taker in T20 cricket, with 631 wickets from 582 matches.
Venky Mysore, the CEO of Kolkata Knight Riders group also talked about Bravo and said,”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.”
Bravo also shared his happiness after being elected in the KKR. 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.”
