Reports: Shah Rukh Khan offered blank cheque to Gautam Gambhir to join KKR

After two successful years with Lucknow Super Giants, Gautam Gambhir made his long-awaited return to Kolkata Knight Riders for IPL 2024. Under his leadership, KKR won the championship in 2012 and 2014 but left the franchise in 2017 to join Delhi Capitals. After his retirement, he made his way into coaching and has played a pivotal role in helping LSG qualify for the play-offs in 2022 and 2023.

Meanwhile, after qualifying for the finals in 2021, KKR have failed to make it to the play-offs in two successive years. To change things up, KKR co-owner and Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan decided to bring back Gambhir, under whose leadership, the franchise had tremendous success.

As per reports, the co-owner offered a blank cheque to the former cricketer, but it's not reported if he accepted to that. The 42-year-old joined KKR anyway and in his first speech made it clear that KKR will once again fight for the title.

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Giving freedom to players is very, very important: Gambhir

The former KKR skipper also made it clear that everyone in the team would be treated equally and there won't be a discrimination between any senior or junior teammate. The New Delhi-born stated that the mission is to win the IPL for the third time and stated that everyone needs to follow just one path.

“One thing I absolutely believe in is giving all the freedom to the players. That is something very, very important. People who have played with me know one thing about me that everyone in this group will be treated equally. There is no senior or junior, there is no domestic or international because we have got one mission, and that is to win this IPL. So everyone needs to follow that one simple path,” Gambhir said in a video released by KKR.

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Notably, KKR will begin their campaign on March 23 against Pat Cummins' Sunrisers Hyderabad at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. They will also face Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the first leg of the tournament.