Former Indian team opener Gautam Gambhir has rejoined the IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders after quitting his role as mentor of Lucknow Super Giants. KKR has roped in Gambhir as a mentor for the IPL 2024 season. KKR CEO Venky Mysore confirmed this on Wednesday.
Gautam Gambhir rejoined Kolkata Knight Riders, this time as mentor. Image- The Quint
Gautam Gambhir will now focus on making the team a champion with coach Chandrakant Pandit for IPL 2024. Under his captaincy, Gautam Gambhir made Kolkata Knight Riders the IPL champion in 2012 and 2014. Under Gambhir, KKR also qualified for the playoffs five times and reached the final of the 2014 Champions League.
This former batsman of the Indian cricket team played cricket for Kolkata Knight Riders from IPL 2011 to IPL 2017, but he returned to the Delhi team in IPL 2018, after which he also retired from IPL. Now Gambhir stays with the team in IPL as a mentor.
Gambhir worked with Lucknow Super Giants ever since the inception of the KL Rahul-led side in 2022. Under the mentorship of Gambhir, the Lucknow team was at number-3 in the points table of IPL 2022, whereas in IPL 2023 also, this team finished its league stage at number-3.
Now Gautam Gambhir has left Lucknow and joined his old and most successful team Kolkata Knight Riders for IPL 2024. In such a situation, it has to be seen what changes take place in the Kolkata team after the return of its oldest and most successful leader.
Gautam Gambhir posted a heartfelt note after quitting his role as Lucknow Super Giants captain. "As I announce the end of my impeccable journey with Lucknow Super Giants, I am filled with love and immense gratitude towards all the players, coaches, support staff and every individual who has made this journey memorable," Gambhir said in a parting statement.
"I would like to thank Dr. Sanjiv Goenka for his inspiring leadership while creating this remarkable franchise and for his tremendous support to all my endeavours. I'm sure that the team will do wonders in the future and will make every LSG fan proud. All the very best LSG brigade!" Gambhir added.
At the same time, the Kolkata Knight Riders team has issued a press release informing that, "Gautam Gambhir will return to KKR as "Mentor" and join hands with head coach Chandrakant Pandit,"
Yashasvi Jasiwal, the 23-year-old young opener, has now equalled the record of Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag to become the joint fastest Indian to score 2000 test runs.
In the history of Indian Test Cricket, reaching the 2000-run milestone has always been a matter of pride. While many have achieved this feat, only a few have done so with remarkable speed.
Currently, the record for the fastest Indians to score 2000 test runs is jointly held by Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid, accomplishing it in 40 innings.
Let's look at the elite list of players who previously set the standard by being the fastest Indians to reach 2000 test runs.
🚨 Fastest to 2000 test runs by an Indian!
Yashasvi Jaiswal equals Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag's record to become the fastest Indian to reach 2000 test runs! 💯
Young Yashasvi Jaiswal has been one of the brightest prospects of the Indian test cricket team since his debut. The 23-year-old just equalled the record for the fastest 2000 test run by an Indian during the second inning of the Edgbaston test against England.
With an outstanding batting average of 53.10, Yashasvi now has 2018 runs in just 21 test matches. In his young career, the southpaw opener has scored 5 test centuries, among which three came in away conditions.
Given the time left in his career and his determination to score big and quickly, Indian fans can surely hope that Yashasvi will keep on breaking many test records in future.
2. Rahul Dravid (40 innings)
Rahul Dravid representing India in tests. Image | Mint
Rahul Dravid, famously known as "The Wall" for his brilliant defensive technique and concentration in tests, reached 2000 test runs in just 40 innings. His ability to bat for longer periods and wear down the opposition was a key aspect of India's Test success.
Virender Sehwag representing India in tests. Image | Instagram
Virender Sehwag, the aggressive opening batsman, matched Dravid's record by also reaching 2000 test runs in 40 innings. He was known for his fearless approach while batting at the top of the order.
He is also the only Indian to score 2 triple centuries in his test career.
4. Vijay Hazare (43 innings)
Vijay Hazare representing India in tests. Image | ESPNcricinfo
An icon of Indian cricket's early era, Vijay Hazare reached 2000 test runs in 43 innings. He was an incredible run-scorer in his time, known for his elegant batting and contributions.
His contributions mattered highly during a period when Indian cricket was finding its status on the internationalstage.
5. Gautam Gambhir (43 innings)
Gautam Gambhir representing India in tests. Image | BBC
The bold left-handed opener, Gautam Gambhir, also reached 2000 test runs in 43 innings. He was a crucial part of India's top order in the late 2000s and early 2010s.
Gambhir was known for his mental toughness and ability to play long innings when required, with high determination and focus.
Sunil Gavaskar representing India in tests. Image | Facebook
Sunil Gavaskar, one of the greatest openers in Test cricket history, scored 2000 test runs in 44 innings. He was known for batting fearlessly and facing West Indian fast bowlers without modern protective gear.
Gavaskar was the first player to reach the 10000-run mark in test cricket history, and also holds the 3rd place for most runs for India in tests.
Major setback for BCCI as Bombay HC orders to pay ₹538 crore to defunct IPL team Kochi Tuskers Kerala
An impact of legal ruling marks a major setback for BCCI as Bombay HC orders to pay ₹538 crore to defunct IPL team Kochi Tuskers Kerala. Get the complete story here.
For years, the Board of Control for Crock in India (BCCI) has navigated various challenges. However a recent coury order is set to have a major financial impact on the sport's governing body.
This ruling revisits a past chapter involving a former IPL team and a long-standing dispute with them. The decision has arrived after a decade of the case, and brings a major setback for BCCI as Bombay HC orders to pay ₹538 crore to defunct IPL team Kochi Tuskers Kerala.
Read the full story to know why.
How the BCCI-Kochi Tuskers Kerala dispute began
BCCI authorities, 2025. Image | Facebook
The root of this major legal battle dates back to 2011, when the BCCI terminated the contract of the IPL team Kochi Tuskers Kerala. The team, managed by Kochi Cricket Private Limited (KCPL), had only played in one IPL season.
The BCCI claimed they ended the contract because Kochi Tuskers failed to provide a required annual bank guarantee by a deadline in March 2011. This was seen by the BCCI as a serious breach of their agreement.
However, the team owners had a different view. They argued that their delay was due to several issues, including problems with the stadium in Kochi and delays in getting necessary approvals. They also stated that the BCCI continued to deal with them and even accepted payments for months after the March deadline.
The team owners believed this showed the BCCI had waived or overlooked the deadline, making their sudden contract termination unfair.
Taking the matter to arbitration:
Because they felt the termination was wrong, the Kochi Tuskers owners took the matter to arbitration in 2012. An independent tribunal looked at all the facts. In June 2015, this tribunal ruled in favor of Kochi Tuskers Kerala.
The tribunal specifically directed the BCCI to pay ₹384.83 crore to Kochi Cricket Private Limited (KCPL) for lost earnings and ₹153.34 crore to Rendezvous Sports World (RSW) for a wrongfully cashed bank guarantee. These amounts also included interest and legal costs.
The Financial Fallout: Why ₹538 crore to be paid now?
Bombay High Court. Image | Wikipedia
The BCCI challenged the 2015 arbitration award in the Bombay High Court, arguing it was unfair and that the damages were too high. However, the recent Bombay HC ruling upheld the original arbitration decision.
This means the BCCI is now legally requiredto pay a total of over ₹538 crore, including accumulated interest since 2015, to the KTK owners. This represents a major financial loss and a significant legal defeat for the Indian cricket board.
A single social media activity has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world ahead of IPL 2026 auction. A recent 'hint' from Sanju Samson's manager has intensified the possibility of his transfer to Chennai Super Kings from Rajasthan Royals in the next season.
Fans are wondering whether this would come true and change the landscape for both the teams in the future, or is it just another false call.
There's been a mixed bag of positive and upsetting reactions in the past 24 hours, but the real question still stands: Will Sanju Samson join CSK for IPL 2026? Check out how Manager's hint fuels mega transfer rumours.
"Time to Move": Samson's recent viral Instagram post
On June 7, Sanju Samson posted a photo on Instagram that begin the rumors. The image featured him alongside his wife, crossing a prominent yellow line on the road. He captioned the post: "Time to MOVE..!!"
This visual cue, combined with the caption and the fact that a Tamil song ('Mun Andhi' from 7 Aum Arivu) was also part of the post, immediately sparked discussion. The comments section was quickly flooded with fans linking the "yellow" color and the "move" message to the Chennai Super Kings.
Comments like "He is definitely moving to CSK" and "Welcome to CSK 💛" can be seen all over the post.
Manager's IPL 2026 hint that sparked Sanju Samson transfer rumours
Sanju Samson's manager's profile (left) and the post he liked on Instagram (right). Image | One Cricket
The intense speculation regarding Sanju Samson moving to CSK for IPL 2026 intensified due to a subtle yet impactful social media action by his manager, Prashob Suvedan. He liked a viral post on X (formerly Twitter), which explicitly stated that Samson might be released fromRajasthan Royals ahead of the IPL 2026 auction.
This gets more interesting as the post also claimed CSK having already approached Samson regarding the move.
Therefore, the timing and nature of his manager's digital interaction ignited widespread speculation and put a layer of possibility about this matter.
— Sanju Samson Fans Page (@SanjuSamsonFP) June 16, 2025
🚨 Sanju Samson wants to join CSK, CSK wants Sanju Samson. Talks are on but it is not at all this simple.
RR doesn't want to trade Samson with any CSK's player, if Samson wants to join CSK then he will have to do it through auction. But then in Auction there is KKR who gonna… pic.twitter.com/Dy6mpX1Ke2
Indian cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir has suddenly returned to India, citing a family emergency as the reason. A BCCI source has given this information to news agency PTI.
The source said that Gambhir had to return to take care of his mother, who has been admitted to a hospital in New Delhi due to health complications. The Shubman Gill-led Indian Test team is in England to play a five-match IND vs ENG series, starting June 20 in Leeds.
In Gambhir's absence, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate will oversee the team during the four-day intra-squad match between India and India A starting from Friday. He will be assisted by other coaching staff like bowling coach Morne Morkel and batting coach Shitanshu Kotak. If all goes well at home, Gambhir is expected to return to England within a week.
Indian team would like to test its preparations
The Indian team will play intra-squad matches to finalise its preparations ahead of the IND vs ENG five-match Test series. India A played two unofficial Test matches against England Lions and the batsmen showed their prowess in them. Such matches are important for the preparation of the team before any series. India has opted to play this match in an empty stadium so that the opposing team does not get a clue of their strategy.
All eyes will be on Kuldeep-Jadeja
In this match, the performance of Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja will be watched and an interesting competition is expected between these two to make a place in the final eleven of the Indian Test team.
India's bowling coach Morne Morkel had said on Wednesday that the match is crucial for India's preparation as it is difficult to develop the ability to bowl and field 90 overs in a day through normal practice sessions. This match will give the Indian team management a good opportunity to assess its players, especially the bowlers, in match situations.
This will help ensure that the bowlers, be it spinners or pacers, are in the required rhythm in the actual match. Gambhir will have to do some brainstorming to pick the only specialist spinner for Headingley.
Jadeja has a good batting record abroad but if India has to take 20 wickets then Kuldeep's role will become important. Kuldeep can prove to be a good partner of fast bowler Jaspreet Bumrah in the conditions here. Jadeja vs Kuldeep is the biggest puzzle for the playing XI that the team management will have to solve.
Eyes will be on fast bowlers as well
Similarly, this match will give the team management and captain Shubman Gill a chance to see which ball works better in these conditions - Akash Deep's full length or Prasidh Krishna's back of the length. Bumrah, who will be playing a red ball match after six months, will get a chance to bowl multiple spells and test his fitness. He has played only IPL since returning from a lower back injury.
India's 2011 World Cup winning squad: Where are they now?
From playing careers to coaching, commentary, and other ventures, where are the 2011 WC winning heroes? Explore the present status of India's 2011 World Cup winning squad and where are they now, 14 years after historic victory.
It's been 14 years since India lifted the 2011 World Cup, a moment etched in every fan's memory. That legendary squad brought joy to millions on that unforgettable night in Mumbai, but where are they now?
While many retired, some explored new paths in cricket, and others found different callings, one key player continues to represent India in ODIs.
Explore the current status of India's 2011 World Cup winning squad and know their journeys since the victory and where are they now.
The unforgettable 2011 World Cup Winning squad
India's 2011 World Cup winning squad members. Image | sportzpoint.com
Here's the overview of squad members:
MS Dhoni (C & WK), Virender Sehwag (VC), Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Yusuf Pathan, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh, Ashish Nehra, Munaf Patel, S Sreesanth, Piyush Chawla, Ravichandran Ashwin.
Coach: Gary Kirsten
Find out the updates on each one of them below:
1. MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni with the World Cup in 2011. Image | SportsCafe
MS Dhoni is the winning captain of 2011 World Cup, who finished off in style with a six to seal the victory for India. He also led India to victory in the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, becoming the first captain to claim all ICC limited-overs trophies.
He continued to captain India for several years and played a crucial role as a finisher in white-ball cricket. He also led CSK to win four IPL titles from 2011-2023.
Retirement: Dhoni retired from test cricket in December 2014, and announced his retirement from international cricket (ODIs and T20Is) on August 15, 2020. However, he continues to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Currently doing: Continues to captain Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. He is involved in various business ventures and endorsements.
Virender Sehwag with the World Cup in 2011. Image | TOI
Virender Sehwag was the vice-captain of India's 2011 WC-winning squad and provided explosive starts at the top of the order, including a stunning knock of 175 runs against Bangladesh in the opening match.
He continued his attacking batting in Test and ODI formats for a few more years.
Retirement: Sehwag retired from all forms of international cricket in October 2015.
Currently doing: He is a prominent cricket analyst and commentator, and a member of the Anti-Doping Appeal Panel of the National Anti-Doping Agency under the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. He also runs the Sehwag International School in Haryana and has ventured into the sports gear and organic farming business.
3. Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir in World Cup final against Sri Lanka in 2011. Image | Facebook
Gautam Gambhir was an integral part of India's success in the 2011 WC, especially with his knock of 97 runs in the final. He continued to play a key role in India's top order for a period. He also led Kolkata Knight Riders to 2 IPL titles in 2012 and 2014.
Later, he served as a mentor for Lucknow Super Giants and then KKR, guiding them to their third title in 2024.
Retirement: Announced retirement from all formats in December 2018.
Currently doing: In July 2024, Gambhir was appointed as the head coach of India for three years until the 2027 ODI World Cup. He got his first major ICC title in a coaching role by leading India to victory in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy as the head coach.
4. Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar after the World Cup win in 2011. Image | DNA India
Sachin Tendulkar was the leading run-scorer for India and the second overall in the tournament (482 runs in 9 innings), including two centuries.
He scored his record-setting 100th international century in March 2012 and became a member of the Rajya Sabha in the same year. Additionally, he was a part of Mumbai Indians team that won the IPL in 2013.
Retirement: Retired from ODI cricket in December 2012, and from tests in November 2013. He also retired from the IPL in 2013.
Currently doing: Sachin continues to be involved in cricketing and social initiatives, and remains a global ambassador for the sport.
Yuvraj Singh after the World Cup win in 2011. Image | India Today
The "Player of the tournament," Yuvraj Singh, delivered an exceptional all-rounder performance throughout the World Cup. He successfully battled germ-cell cancer in 2011 and returned to cricket the next year (2012).
Yuvraj continued to play white ball cricket for India occasionally and played in various IPL teams, winning twice with SRH in 2016 and MI in 2019.
Retirement: Formally retired from international cricket in June 2019.
Currently doing: He is involved in various cricketing leagues and charitable initiatives. He also mentored India's emerging star, Abhishek Sharma, and has a significant role in shaping his career.
6. Suresh Raina
Suresh Raina in action for India in 2011 World Cup. Image | Instagram
Suresh Raina played an attacking role in the lower middle order, particularly in the quarter-final against Australia (unbeaten 34), and the semi-final against Pakistan (unbeaten 36).
He continued to be a significant part of India's white-ball setup for several years and was a key player for CSK in the IPL.
Retirement: Announced retirement from all forms on August 15, 2020, on the same day as Dhoni. However, he continued to play domestic cricket and in various T20 leagues for a period.
Currently doing: Raina has been involved in commentary and various cricket-related activities.
7. Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli after the 2011 World Cup win. Image | AI Jazeera
As the youngest batsman in the squad (22 years 95 days), Virat Kohli showed glimpses of his future greatness by performing well in the 2011 World Cup, including a century against Bangladesh.
Kohli rose to be one of the world's premier batsmen and captained India across all formats. He became the most successful test captain in history for India. He led India to numerous victories and broke several batting records.
He is the only player from India's 2011 World Cup-winning squad who is still actively playing international cricket (ODI format).
Retirement: He retired from T20Is after India won the T20 World Cup in 2024, and also retired from Test Cricket in 2025.
Currently doing: He won the IPL title with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2025 and had a phenomenal season. He is also expected to play in the 2027 World Cup.
Yusuf Pathan with the WC trophy in 2011. Image | Twitter
Yusuf Pathan was a part of India's World Cup-winning squad in 2011 and played as a batting all-rounder, primarily in the lower middle order. He continued to play in domestic cricket and the IPL, playing for various franchises, including KKR and SRH.
Pathan was also a part of India's 2007 T20 World Cup winning squad.
Retirement: Retired from all formats in February 2021.
Currently doing: He became a member of parliament from the Baharampur Lok Sabha constituency of West Bengal, and has been seen participating in the Legends League Cricket.
9. Zaheer Khan
Zaheer Khan holding the WC trophy in the final in 2011. Image | Getty Images
The shepherd of India's pace attack, Zaheer Khan, was the joint-highest wicket-taker in the 2011 World Cup with 21 wickets in 9 matches. His contributions to the bowling unit were phenomenal.
He continued to represent India in internationals for a few more years.
Retirement: Khan retired from international cricket in October 2015.
Currently doing: He has been involved in commentary and coaching roles. He is also a cricket expert and analyst.
10. Harbhajan Singh
Harbhajan Singh celebrating the 2011 World Cup Win. Image | Sportstar
Harbhajan Singh proved to be crucial for the team in the WC 2011, with the kind of experience he had in the game. He continued to play for India occasionally after the World Cup, but his international appearances became less frequent.
He continued to play IPL for franchises like MI, CSK and KKR.
Retirement: Retired from all formats in December 2021.
Currently doing: He is a cricket commentator and an analyst. He has also ventured into politics, serving as a member of parliament in the Rajya Sabha.
Ashish Nehra in 2011 World Cup. Image | TV9 Bharatvarsh
Ashish Nehra played three matches in the 2011 World Cup and was particularly effective in the semi-final against Pakistan, where he took 2 wickets for 33 runs.
He faced injuries but made a remarkable comeback to the Indian T20I team and played the T20 World Cup that year.
Retirement: Nehra retired from all forms of international cricket in November 2017.
Currently doing: He has been involved in coaching in the IPL (head coach: Gujarat Titans) and won the 2022 season.
12. Munaf Patel
Munaf Patel in 2011 World Cup. Image | IBTimes India
Munaf Patel played a significant role as a consistent medium-pacer in the 2011 WC winning squad, picking 11 wickets in 8 matches. He continued to play domestic cricket and in various T20 leagues after the World Cup.
Retirement: He retired from all formats in December 2018.
Currently doing: Served as the bowling coach for Delhi Capitals since the 2024 season and has been seen participating in Legends League Cricket.
13. S Sreesanth
Sreesanth in 2011 World Cup. Image | Circle of Cricket
S Sreesanth came in as a replacement for Praveen Kumar (ruled out due to injury) in India's 2011 WC squad. He played 2 matches, including the final.
His career was significantly impacted by a spot-fixing scandal in the 2013 IPL, which led to a ban from cricket.
Retirement: He made a comeback in domestic cricket after the ban was reduced, and retired from all domestic forms in March 2022.
Currently doing: Sreesanth is the co-owner of the Kollam Aeries team in the Kerala Cricket League. He also participated in reality shows like Big Boss and was involved in acting and other ventures.
14. Piyush Chawla
Piyush Chawla in 2011 World Cup. Image | Instagram
The youngest player in India's 2011 World Cup winning squad, Piyush Chawla (22 yrs 46 days), picked 4 wickets in the three matches he played. He continued to play domestic cricket and IPL for various franchises and won.
Retirement: Chawla announced from all forms of cricket in June 2025. His last international appearance for India was in 2012.
Currently doing: He has been associated with the sport as an analyst and was seen giving inputs in per-match shows in IPL and other leagues.
Ravichandran Ashwin in 2011 World Cup. Image | The SportsRush
The spin master, Ravichandran Ashwin, played only 2 matches in the tournament, picking up 4 wickets. He turned out to be one of the most successful Test bowlers for India, with 537 Test wickets.
Ashwin later developed into a useful all-rounder and could bat well. He was also named ICC Cricketer of the Year in 2016.
Retirement: Announced retirement from international cricket in December 2024.
Currently doing: He is actively involved in playing cricket in IPL and played in the TNPL as well. Ashwin is also an active YouTuber, who analyses and shares cricketing stories on his channel, which currently has 1.71M subscribers.
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