Reports: Juhi Chawla’s daughter Jhanvi Mehta likely to take charge of Kolkata Knight Riders

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are set for another change in their management. The KKR co-owners Jay Mehta and Juhi Chawla’s daughter Jhanvi is likely to assume charge of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise. The Knights seemed to have followed the template of the Reliance Group-owned Mumbai Indians (MI), which is run by Akash Ambani from the front.

As far the Dinesh Karthik-captained Knight Riders are concerned, Jhanvi, who’s only 18 years old, has played active roles in the functioning of the franchise. A couple of years ago, she came into the limelight, playing an active role in the IPL player auction. Back then, she had matched an aggressively-bidding Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) co-owner Preity Zinta bid-by-bid.

“Youngsters tend to bring in fresh energy. Akash’s presence in the Mumbai Indians set-up has led to some very exciting things happening there. It’s the way forward and time for new ideas to seep in,” a source was quoted as saying in The Times of India.

Bayliss and McCullum join KKR

The Knights have gone through a number of changes in the team management over the last few days. Jacques Kallis, who joined the team as a player in 2011 and then became the head coach, left the franchise. Even Simon Katich bid adieu to the franchise. Trevor Bayliss, who was previously with Kolkata Knight Riders during their victorious campaign in 2012 and 2014, joined the team.

Bayliss is also the coach of the England team, which won the 2019 World Cup, beating New Zealand in the final at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. Moreover, Bayliss was the Sri Lankan head coach from 2007 to 2011 during which the Lankans qualified for World Cup finals twice. KKR also roped in former New Zealand batsman Brendon McCullum as a mentor and batting coach.

Even McCullum was with the Knights before he moved to the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The retired Black Caps cricketer has the distinction of scoring the first century of the IPL way back in 2008 in the inaugural match itself. KKR had a disappointing campaign last time around as they finished fifth in the points table courtesy of six victories from 14 matches.