Dwayne Bravo Joins Kolkata Knight Riders as Mentor, Ends CSK Journey

Dwayne Bravo, the legendary West Indies all-rounder, has bid farewell to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) after a remarkable journey that spanned four IPL titles. He will now embark on a new chapter as a mentor for defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) from the 2025 season onwards.

Bravo, who turns 41 in October, will replace Gautam Gambhir, who recently took over as India's head coach until 2027. The move comes a day after Bravo announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.

According to ESPNcricinfo, Bravo recently met with KKR CEO Venky Mysore during the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) before agreeing to the contract. In addition to KKR, he will also oversee all franchises under the Knight Riders umbrella in various T20 leagues, including Trinbago Knight Riders (CPL), Los Angeles Knight Riders (MLC), and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ILT20).

"DJ Bravo joining us is an exciting development," Mysore said in a statement. "His relentless drive to win, along with his vast experience and deep knowledge, will greatly benefit our franchise and players."

Bravo expressed his excitement about the new role, saying, "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 will be Bravo's second coaching stint in the IPL. After retiring from the IPL as a player in 2022, he joined CSK as their bowling coach for the 2023 season. Having won the IPL three times as a player, Bravo continued his success in his first coaching assignment, guiding CSK to victory over defending champions Gujarat Titans in 2023.

Widely regarded as one of the best death bowlers in T20 cricket, Bravo is the third-highest wicket-taker in IPL history and the first player to win two purple caps in the tournament. With over 500 T20 appearances to his name, he is known for his tactical acumen and motivational skills, qualities that earned him the West Indies captaincy.

Bravo retired from international cricket after the 2021 T20 World Cup but continued to play in T20 leagues. He also played a key role as a consultant coach for Afghanistan during the 2024 T20 World Cup, helping the team reach the semi-finals for the first time.

Tags: #DwayneBravo, #KKR, #CSK, #IPL, #Mentor