Former West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo was named the mentor of defending Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Friday, shortly after announcing his retirement from all forms of cricket. Bravo replaces Gautam Gambhir, who vacated the position in July following his appointment as head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team.
KKR’s announcement followed Bravo’s farewell post on social media, where the 40-year-old reflected on his storied career. “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. 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 shared on Instagram.
Bravo leaves behind an illustrious T20 career, holding the record for the most wickets in the format with 631 scalps from 582 matches. His final season in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) was cut short due to injury, but his impact on the game remains indelible.
Venky Mysore, CEO of the Knight Riders Group, expressed his excitement about the legendary cricketer joining the franchise: “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, who has been associated with the Trinbago Knight Riders in the CPL for over a decade, shared his enthusiasm for the new role and the next chapter of his cricketing journey.
“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.
The 40-year-old first retired from international cricket in 2018 before making a brief return in 2019 to prepare for the 2020 T20 World Cup. He eventually hung up his boots again in 2021, before officially retiring from all formats of the game this week.
With Bravo stepping into his new role at KKR, his wealth of experience, combined with his winning mentality, is expected to provide significant value to the defending IPL champions as they prepare for the upcoming season.
